Male Populus cathayana than female shows higher photosynthesis and less cellular injury through ABA-induced manganese transporting inhibition under high manganese condition

High Mn poisoned male and female Populus cathayana. The toxicity could be alleviated by exogenous ABA application. Intriguingly, ABA granted higher resistance to males than to females under high Mn stress because ABA could induce more blocking of Mn translocation to leaf in males than in females. Abscisic acid (ABA) is involved in plants' adaptive responses to various environmental stresses. However, little is known about the sex-related detoxification of ABA in plants under excess manganese (Mn) conditions. To reveal potentially different ABA detoxification mechanisms between Populus cathayana males and females against excess Mn exposure, photosynthesis performance, Mn2+ concentrations and morphologic changes were investigated. High Mn stress led to a more severe chloroplast destruction and, thus, greater reduction in the photosynthesis of P. cathayana females when compared to males. Under high Mn conditions, Mn reallocated mainly to leaves in females, while in males, it was distributed equally to roots and leaves. With the application of ABA, photosynthesis was restored more in males and more integrated grana in males than in females. It should be noted that Mn concentrations in males were lower in leaves and higher in roots and stems than those in females when treated with the combination of Mn and ABA. Conclusively, due to the reduction of root-shoot Mn transportation induced by ABA in P. cathayana males, males experienced less physiological injuries than do females, which suggest that males possess greater ABA-inducible resistance to Mn stress than do females.Peer reviewe

Dual functions of the ZmCCT-associated quantitative trait locus in flowering and stress responses under long-day conditions

Gene ontology enrichment of differentially expressed genes in HZ4 and HZ4-NIL in three development stages. (XLS 21 kb

STAT1 negatively regulates human glioma U251 cell proliferation Huang et al: Role of STAT1 in glioma

Background Glioma is one of the most malignant tumors, which leads to high mortality in cancer patients. At present, there is no effective therapy for glioma. Therefore, it is urgent and necessary to find new molecular targets for anti-glioma therapy. Objective The present study aimed to investigate the role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) in the development and progression of human glioma and related mechanisms. Methods According to the instructions of Lipofectamine TM 2000 transfection reagent, we transiently transfected the plasmid pcDNA3.1-STAT1 into glioma U251 cells. Then STAT1 expression in glioma U251 and LN382 cells was detected by Western blot. MTT was performed to assay the proliferative activity of U251 cells after STAT1 transduction, flow cytometry was used to detect cell cycle and apoptosis indicators, cell migration indicator was determined by Wound healing, and Western blot was used for detecting the expression level and change trend of p53, p21, bcl-2, Caspase-8, Cyclin A and Cyclin E in transfected cells. Results Overexpressed STAT1 significantly inhibited U251 cell proliferation and promoted U251 cell apoptosis. Meanwhile, high expression of STAT1 can increase the expression of p53, p21, and Caspase-8 while inhibiting the expression of bcl-2, Cyclin A, and Cyclin E. Conclusion Highly expressed STAT1 inhibits the proliferative activity of human glioma U251 cells and can promote tumor cell apoptosis and block cell cycle progression while regulating the expression of various signal transduction molecules. Thus, STAT1 has a critical function in the development and progression of glioma and is a novel target for glioma therapy

Periodical assessment of the prenatal biopsychosocial risk to predict obstetric and perinatal complications in Asian countries 2002-2003

Objetivo: Describir el nivel de predicción de las complicaciones obstétricas y perinatales mediante la evaluación periódica del riesgo biopsicosocial prenatal (RBP) durante el control prenatal en mujeres asiáticas. Materiales y métodos: Durante el 2002 se evaluaron en Shanghai, China y Dhaka, Bangalesh 565 primigrávidas sanas con evaluaciones periódicas del RBP (primera: semana 14-27, segunda: semana 28-32, tercera: semana 33-42) con evaluación prospectiva del resultado materno y perinatal. Resultados: La edad promedio fue 25.1±6.4 años en su mayoría de nivel socioeconómico medio, con formación universitaria y residencia urbana. Se observaron 135 (23.9%) complicaciones obstétricas, 57 (10.1%) recién nacidos con bajo peso y 41 (7.3%) muertes perinatales. El alto riesgo biopsicosocial prenatal se asoció con las complicaciones obstétricas (área bajo la curva ROC) 0.80 IC 95% 0.71-0.89 con el parto prematuro (área bajo la curva ROC) 0.79, IC 95% 0.68-0.90) y con el bajo peso al nacer (área bajo la curva ROC) 0.85, IC 95% 0.77-0.93. El período con mayor efectividad predictiva fue el último (33-42 semanas) tanto para las complicaciones obstétricas (sensibilidad: 84.4%, especificidad: 69.3%), como para el parto prematuro (sensibilidad: 79.2%, especificidad: 67.1%) como para el bajo peso al nacer (sensibilidad: 88% especificidad: 77.3%). A pesar de las diferencias basales sociodemográficas, nutricionales, étnicas, culturales y religiosas de los dos países el efecto predictivo del instrumento fue similar. Conclusión: La evaluación del riesgo biopsicosocial prenatal fue clínicamente válida para predecir complicaciones obstétricas, parto prematuro y bajo peso al nacer en los países asiáticos comparable a los resultados en Latino-América. Objective: To determine the effect of the periodical use of the prenatal biopsychosocial risk assessment (PBR) to predict obstetric and perinatal complications in pregnant women in Asian countries. Materials and methods: In Shanghai, China, and Dhaka, Bangladesh, 565 healthy primigravids were evaluated with PBR at inclusion (14-27 weeks), in a second time (28-32 weeks) and in a third time (33-42 weeks) with assessment of the perinatal outcome. Results: The average age was 25.1±6.4 years old. Most of the women were from middle socioeconomic level, with university academic degree and urban residence. There were 129 (25.6%) obstetric complications, 54 (10.1%) low birth weight babies and 41 (7.3%) perinatal deaths. The ROC analysis showed that the high PBR score was associated with obstetric complications (area under ROC Curves) 0.80 CI 95% 0.71- 0.89, preterm birth (area under ROC curves) 0.79, CI 95% 0.68-0.90, low birth weight (area under ROC curves) 0.85, CI 95% 0.77-0.93. The best predictive period was the last (33-42 weeks) to obstetric complications (sensibility: 84.4%, specificity: 69.3%), preterm delivery (sensibility 79.2%, specificity 67.1%) and to low birth weight (sensibility 88%, specificity 77.3%). The baseline sociodemographic and nutritional characteristics and the perinatal outcome were different between the countries, however, the predictive effect of the instrument was similar. Conclusion: The prenatal biopsychosocial risk assessment was clinically valid to predict obstetric complications, preterm birth and low birth weight in two Asian countries when compared to results in Latin-American countries

Efectos de la suplementación oral con calcio y ácido linoleico conjugado en primigrávidas de alto riesgo

Objetivo: Determinar el efecto de dosis bajas de calcio elemental y ácido linoleico conjugado sobre los niveles plasmáticos de tromboxano B2, insulina, aldosterona, GMP cíclico, proteína C reactiva ultrasensible y la eficacia del tratamiento en la prevención de la hipertensión arterial inducida por el embarazo. Métodos: En un ensayo clínico doble ciego, controlado con placebo se estudiaron a 48 primigrávidas con alto riesgo para desarrollar preeclampsia con dosis diarias de calcio elemental (600 mg) y ácido linoleico conjugado (450 mg) (n=24) ó 450 mg de talco y 600 mg de lactosa como placebo (n=24) desde la semana 18-22 hasta el parto. Resultados: Dos mujeres en el grupo experimental (8.3%) desarrollaron hipertensión arterial inducida por el embarazo comparado con 10 (41.7%) mujeres controles (riesgo relativo 0.20, IC 95% 0.05-0.82, p=0.01). No se observaron diferencias entre los niveles plasmáticos después de 4 semanas de tratamiento ni efectos maternos o neonatales en ambos grupos. Conclusiones: La administración de dosis bajas de calcio elemental y ácido linoleico conjugado redujo significativamente la incidencia de hipertensión arterial inducida por el embarazo en mujeres embarazadas de alto riesgo sin efectos colaterales atribuibles a la intervención y sin efecto sobre los niveles de tromboxano B2, insulina, aldosterona, GMP cíclico y la respuesta sistémica inflamatoria. Objective: To determine the effect of low doses of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and calcium on plasma levels of thromboxane B2, insulin, aldosterone, ultrasensisitive C reactive protein, cyclic GMP, and the efficacy of this treatment in the prevention of pregnancy-induced hypertension. Methods: In a randomized, doubleblind, placebo-controlled study 48 primigravidas with high risk for developing preeclampsia (diastolic notch in uterine or arcuate arteries) were treated with daily doses of 450 mg conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and 600 mg elemental calcium (n=24) or 450 mg starch and 600 mg lactose placebo (n=24) from 18-22 weeks’ gestation until birth. Results: Two women in the experimental group (8.3%) developed pregnancy- induced hypertension (PIH) compared with 10 (41.7%) controls (relative risk 0.20, 95% CI 0.05-0.82, p=0.01). There were no significant differences between the serum levels of thromboxane B2, insulin, aldosterone, cyclic GMP, ultrasensisitive C reactive protein after 4 weeks of treatment in both groups. There were no serious maternal or neonatal side effects in either group. Conclusions: The administration of low daily doses of conjugated linoleic acid and calcium early in the pregnancy reduced the incidence of PIH significantly in women at high risk without effects on plasma levels of thromboxane B2, insulin, aldosterone, cyclic GMP, or inflammatory response and with adequate pharmacology tolerance

Distribution of Hyperpycnal Flow Related Sandstone Deposits in a Lacustrine Shale System: Implication for Hydrocarbon Reservoir Exploration in the Chang 7 Oil Member of the Triassic Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin, China

Gravity flow deposits are important hydrocarbon reservoirs in deep lacustrine deposits. Previous studies have paid much attention to the hydrocarbon reservoirs in those intrabasinal classic turbidite deposits. However, relatively little is known about the distribution of oil reservoirs in those extrabasinal hyperpycnal flow deposits. With the help of cores and wireline logging data, the present study undertakes a description and interpretation of subsurface shale oil reservoirs in the deep lake deposits in Chang 7 member, Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin. Parallel bedded fine sandstone (Sh), massive bedded fine sandstone (Sm), massive bedded fine sandstone with mud clasts (Smg), deformed bedded siltstone (Fd), wave-lenticular bedded siltstone (Fh) and black shale (M) were found and interpreted in those deep lake deposits. The deposits were interpreted as hyperpycnal flow deposits which developed in channel, levee and deep lacustrine facies. The development of the Chang 7 sand body increased gradually, and the sand body of Chang 71 was found to be the main position of sandy hyperpycnites. The fine description of the sand body indicated a channelized sedimentary pattern. The thick sandy hyperpycnites mainly developed in the middle of those channels, and the eastern part of the study area was found to be the main deposition position of the hyperpycnal flow deposits. From the perspective of plane overlap and single well analysis, a thick sand body is the favorable position for the development of an oil reservoir, which has a significant control effect on the reservoir scale and oil production. This research can aid in understanding the facies distribution of hyperpycnal flows and has implications for hydrocarbon reservoir exploration