DataSheet_1_Antioxidant processes involving epicatechin decreased symptoms of pine wilt disease.docx

Since the pine wood nematode (PWN, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) invasion of Northeast China, both symptomatic and asymptomatic PWN carriers have been found. Asymptomatic PWN carriers, which are more dangerous than symptomatic carriers, constitute a source of infection in the following spring. The simultaneous presence of symptomatic and asymptomatic PWN carriers indicates that Pinus koraiensis has different tolerance levels to PWN. In this study, validity of susceptibility testing discovered differential types of P. koraiensis including Latent Reservoirs, Low Susceptibles, High Susceptibles and Bell Ringers. Among those types, the Low Susceptibles and Latent Reservoirs were asymptomatic PWN carriers, and Latent Reservoirs were the most dangerous. Transcriptome and metabolomic data showed that 5 genes (3 ans and 2 anr gene) involved in the epicatechin (EC) synthesis pathway were significantly upregulated, which increased the content of EC antioxidants in Latent Reservoirs. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) staining and content determination showed that the hypersensitive response (HR) and H2O2, which functions as a signaling molecule in systemic acquired resistance, decreased in Latent Reservoirs. However, low contents of EC and high contents of H2O2 were found in the High Susceptibles of P. koraiensis. RT-PCR results showed that the expression of ans and anr was upregulated together only in Latent Reservoirs. These results show that the susceptibility of P. koraiensis to PWN differed among different individuals, although no resistant individuals were found. Latent Reservoirs, in which more PWNs resided without visible symptoms via prolonged incubation period, inhibited the symptoms caused by H2O2 because of increased contents of the EC antioxidants.</p

Table1_What is needed by parents of constipated infants and toddlers: A cross-sectional study in China.docx

BackgroundChildhood functional constipation is a worldwide problem that affects the intestinal function of children and the quality of life of their families. Treatment and management of the disease need to be carried out at home by parents. Assessment of caregiving needs is an important link in planning and implementing the intervention. This study aimed to assess the caregiving needs of parents of FC infants and toddlers.MethodsThe researchers recruited convenience samples of parents from an outpatient pediatric constipation clinic of a children's medical center. Totally 211 fathers/mothers were recruited. Nursing needs were measured by a questionnaire, and associations between nursing needs and potential factors were examined using multiple regression analysis.ResultsThe vast majority of participants (88.7%) expressed the need of receiving support from professionals, and only 44 (20.85%) had obtained help from medical staff. The needs of parents mainly include information needs, health needs, psychological needs, and social needs. Of all the needs, the highest score was for information needs (3.87 ± 0.69), followed by the dimension of health needs (3.74 ± 0.82). Results showed statistically significant differences in parental education, place of residence, age of children, duration of FC, defecation frequency, difficulty of defecation, and stool traits in nursing needs (p ConclusionsInformation needs were the major concern for parents, and the unmet needs of parents should be addressed during treatment and care. When developing care plans and providing health education, it should be adjusted according to the specific conditions of the child and parents to improve the compliance of the parents with treatment and care.</p

Effects of organic fertilizer applications on starch changes in tobacco (<i>Nicotiana tabacum</i> L.) leaves during maturation

<p>Starch is a major feedstock for biofuel production. To meet growing fuel demands, the starch yields of energy crops need to be improved. In this study, the effects of the application of an organic fertilizer composed of cotton cake, oil cake and wheat straw at different concentrations (3000, 6000 and 9000 kg ha⁻¹) were investigated in order to optimize the yield of tobacco (<i>Nicotiana tabacum</i> L.) leaves. To analyze the effects of the application of organic fertilizers on starch biosynthesis, we compared the phenotypic index, starch content, ultrastructure and starch granule volume during maturation. The results revealed that application of the organic fertilizer markedly promoted the accumulation of starch in tobacco leaves, and the concentration of organic fertilizer required for optimal yield in yellow loam areas was 6000 kg hm⁻². Analysis of starch synthesis-related gene expression patterns revealed that the transcript levels of adenosine diphosphate-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), starch synthase (SS) and starch branching enzyme (SBE) increased gradually as leaf growth progressed, attained a maximum value at the mature stage, and then declined as leaves progressed toward maturity and senescence. The expression levels of these genes were higher in plants treated with the organic fertilizer than in those grown under normal conditions. Notably, <i>AGPS3, AGPSL, GBSS1</i> and <i>SS1</i> were highly expressed, indicating that these genes play crucial roles in starch synthesis in leaf tissue. The results provide insights into the molecular regulation of starch biosynthesis in tobacco leaves.</p

Additional file 1 of Botulinum toxin treatment for bielschowsky acquired commitant esotropia in adults

Supplementary Material

Table_1_OxyR contributes to virulence of Acidovorax citrulli by regulating anti-oxidative stress and expression of flagellin FliC and type IV pili PilA.docx

In many bacteria, OxyR acts as a transcriptional regulator that facilitates infection via degrading hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generated by the host defense response. Previous studies showed that OxyR also plays an important role in regulating biofilm formation, cell motility, pili relate-genes expression, and surface polysaccharide production. However, the role of OxyR has not been determined in Acidovorax citrulli strain xjl12. In the current study, the qRT-PCR and western blot assays revealed that the expression level of oxyR was significantly induced by H2O2. The oxyR deletion mutant of A. citrulli was significantly impaired bacterial tolerance to oxidative stress and reduced catalase (CAT) activity. In addition, oxyR mutant resulted in reduced swimming motility, twitching motility, biofilm formation, virulence, and bacterial growth in planta by significantly affecting flagellin and type IV pili-related gene (fliC and pilA) expression. The qRT-PCR assays and western blot revealed that OxyR positively regulated the expression of fliC and pilA. Furthermore, bacterial one-hybrid assay demonstrated that OxyR directly affected pilA and fliC promoter. Through bacterial two-hybrid assay, it was found that OxyR can directly interact with PilA and FliC. These results suggest that OxyR plays a major role in the regulating of a variety of virulence traits, and provide a foundation for future research on the global effects of OxyR in A. citrulli.</p

Epitopes in GAD_500–585 were predicted using BIOSUN software bearing in mind sequence properties, the hydrophobic-hydrophilic map, secondary structure, antigenicity and accessibility.

<p>The X-coordinate denoted the sequence location in GAD500–585, of which the first value was the NO. 500 residue in GAD65 and the rest was deduced by analogy. The Y-coordinate denoted the statistical value from the sequence properties (including the hydrophobic-hydrophilic map, secondary structure, antigenicity and accessibility). The curve peak indicated the most possible key residue to form epitope. The region up the red line denoted the possible epitopes, and the region down the blue line denoted the impossible epitopes. The region between the blue and red lines indicated uncertain/potential epitopes. The peptides used in our study are marked as p509, p524, p530 and p570. The beginning and end points of the peptides are marked as vertical lines.</p

3-D optimized structures of the peptides (p286, p509, p524, p530 and p570) in complex with MHC class II I-A^g7 using molecular docking and molecular dynamics methods.

<p>The red ribbon denoted the peptides and the blue and green ribbons denoted the dimer of the MHC class II I-A^g7. The peptides p509 and p530 bound monomer of the MHC class II I-A^g7, while the peptides p524 and p570 bound the core domain of the dimmer similar to the peptide p286.</p

P524-expanded CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells prevented/delayed the onset of diabetes in autoimmune diabetes-prone NOD mice.

<p>4–6 wk old NOD mice were transfused with CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells (either 1×10⁶ (a) or 3×10⁶ (b) per mouse) expanded by p509, p524 or p530. Untreated littermates were used as controls. In some cases, NOD recipients receiving 3×10⁶ p524-expanded CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells were injected with neutralizing antibodies to IL-10/TGF-β according to the regimens described in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0007034#s2" target="_blank">Materials and Methods</a>. Development of diabetes was monitored for over 25 wks and the cumulative incidence of diabetes was shown from two experiments. The difference between untreated controls and mice treated with 1×10⁶ p524-expanded CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells was significant (P = 0.0036), as was that between untreated controls and mice treated with 3×10⁶ p524-expanded CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells (P = 0.0015). The number of mice in each group is indicated in parentheses.</p

P570-expanded CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells suppressed development of diabetes.

<p>(a) Diabetic splenocytes (1×10⁷) were co-transferred with CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells expanded by p570 to 4–8 wk old NOD.scid mice at the numbers indicated. Control recipients were injected with diabetic splenocytes (1×10⁷) alone. In some cases, NOD.scid recipients receiving 6×10⁶ p570-expanded CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells were injected with neutralizing antibodies to IL-10/TGF-β according to the regimens described in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0007034#s2" target="_blank">Materials and Methods</a>. Blood glucose levels were monitored for up to 8 wks. Differences between diabetic spleens alone and diabetic spleens plus 3×10⁶ p570-expanded CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells were significant (P = 0.0039), as were differences between diabetic spleens alone and diabetic spleens plus 6×10⁶ p570-expanded CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells (P = 0.0031). (b) P570-expanded CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells were transfused into 4–6 wk old NOD mice at the numbers indicated. Untreated littermates were used as controls. In some cases, NOD recipients receiving 3×10⁶ p524-expanded CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells were injected with neutralizing antibodies to IL-10/TGF-β according to the regimens described in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0007034#s2" target="_blank">Materials and Methods</a>. Development of diabetes was monitored over 25 wks. The difference between untreated controls and mice transfused with 1×10⁶ p570-expanded CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells was significant (P = 0.0043), as was the difference between untreated and 3×10⁶ p570-expanded CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells (P = 0.0025). The number of mice in each group is indicated in parentheses.</p

3-D structure and surface properties of GAD_500–585.

<p>(a) 3-D modeling structure of GAD_500–585, derived from the crystal structure of GAD65 using a computer modeling homology method and optimized using molecular mechanism and molecular dynamics methods under a CVFF forcefield, was shown as ribbon map and the secondary structure (composed of beta sheets and turns) was analyzed. (b) Surface electrostatic potential of the peptides p509, p524, p530, p570. The surface electrostatic potential of the residues in GAD_500–585 was calculated using the DELPHI program, and the total surface electrostatic potential distribution of the peptides was summed. The positive value in Y-coordinate denoted the peptides possessed the positive surface electrostatic potential, and vice versa.</p