Examination of Parental Effect on the Progeny Diapause by Reciprocal Cross Test in the Cabbage Beetle, Colaphellus bowringi

The cabbage beetle, Colaphellus bowringi Baly (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a serious pest of crucifers in China, undergoes summer or winter diapause in the soil as an adult. In the present study, the incidence of diapause were measured in reciprocal crosses between a high—diapause strain (HD strain) and a laboratory—selected nondiapausing strain (ND strain) under different photoperiods and temperatures, to explore parental influences on the progeny diapause. Sensitivity to photoperiod in the selected nondiapausing strain was nearly eliminated at 25 °C, whereas sensitivity to temperature of the selected nondiapausing strain was retained under continuous darkness at 20 and 22 °C. Reciprocal crosses between the HD strain and the ND strain showed that the incidence of diapause in the progeny was always intermediate to that of the parents under different photoperiods and temperatures, suggesting that diapause induction was determined by both female and male parents. There was a significant effect of temperature; temperature interacted with reciprocal cross on diapause induction, whereas no significant effect of reciprocal cross was demonstrated. The incidence of diapause in ♀ND × ♂HD was the same as in ♀HD × ♂ND under continuous darkness at 18 °C (100%) and 26 °C (0%), but the former was higher than that in ♀HD × ♂ND under continuous darkness at 22 °C, suggesting that female parent does not exhibit strong influence on the diapause response to temperature. There was a significant effect of photoperiod and reciprocal cross on diapause induction, whereas no significant interactive effect on diapause induction was demonstrated. Incidence of diapause in ♀HD × ♂ND was always higher than in ♀ND × ♂HD at 25 °C and 12:12 L:D, 14:10 L:D, and 16:8 L:D, suggesting a strong maternal influence on the diapause response to photoperiod, though a significant difference was observed only at 14:10 L:D. Our results support the idea that diapause induction is determined by both female and male parents. However, results also indicated that a strong maternal influence on diapause was exhibited only in response to photoperiod

Kikuchi Fujimoto disease associated with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia: case report and literature review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The association of Kikuchi Fujimoto disease (KFD) with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) is extremely rare. We report a case of simultaneous diagnosis of KFD and COP.</p> <p>Case Presentation</p> <p>A 33-year-old male presented with a 1-month cough illness and fever lasting for 5 days. The chest radiograph revealed double lower lobe infiltrate, which was unresponsive to antibiotics. A cervical lymph node was first found in the development of this disease. Bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage and lung biopsy established the diagnosis of COP, while a lymph node biopsy was consistent with KFD. The patient improved on steroids.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>KFD and COP are possible part of a disease continuum, rather than separate entities.</p

Differences in the signaling pathways of α1A- and α1B-adrenoceptors are related to different endosomal targeting

Aims: To compare the constitutive and agonist-dependent endosomal trafficking of α1A- and α1B-adrenoceptors (ARs) and to establish if the internalization pattern determines the signaling pathways of each subtype. Methods: Using CypHer5 technology and VSV-G epitope tagged α1A- and α1B-ARs stably and transiently expressed in HEK 293 cells, we analyzed by confocal microscopy the constitutive and agonist-induced internalization of each subtype, and the temporal relationship between agonist induced internalization and the increase in intracellular calcium (determined by FLUO-3 flouorescence), or the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAP kinases (determined by Western blot). Results and Conclusions: Constitutive as well as agonist-induced trafficking of α1A and α1B ARs maintain two different endosomal pools of receptors: one located close to the plasma membrane and the other deeper into the cytosol. Each subtype exhibited specific characteristics of internalization and distribution between these pools that determines their signaling pathways: α1A-ARs, when located in the plasma membrane, signal through calcium and ERK1/2 pathways but, when translocated to deeper endosomes, through a mechanism sensitive to β-arrestin and concanavalin A, continue signaling through ERK1/2 and also activate the p38 pathway. α1B-ARs signal through calcium and ERK1/2 only when located in the membrane and the signals disappear after endocytosis and by disruption of the membrane lipid rafts by methyl-β-cyclodextrin

Prevalence of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Mainland China: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: The spread of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major public health problems in the world. Surveillance of anti-TB drug resistance is important for monitoring TB control strategies. However, the status of drugresistant TB in China has been reported inconsistently. Methods: We systematically reviewed published studies on drug-resistant TB in China until March 31, 2011, and quantitatively summarized prevalence and patterns of anti-TB drug resistance among new cases and previously treated cases, respectively. Results: Ninety-five eligible articles, published during 1993–2011, were included in this review. The meta-analyses showed that the prevalence of drug-resistant TB in new cases was 27.9 % (95 % CI, 25.6%–30.2%) (n/N = 27360/104356) and in previously treated cases was 60.3 % (95 % CI, 56.2%–64.2%) (n/N = 30350/45858). Furthermore, in these two study populations, the prevalence of multiple drug resistance was found to be 5.3 % (95 % CI, 4.4%–6.4%) (n/N = 8810/101718) and 27.4 % (95 % CI, 24.1%–30.9%) (n/N = 10486/44530) respectively. However, the results were found to be frequently heterogeneous (p for Q tests,0.001). The most common resistance was observed for isoniazid among both study populations. Different patterns of drug resistance were observed in the subgroup analysis with respect to geographic areas, drug susceptibility testing methods and subject enrollment time

Planar cell polarity genes Celsr1 and Vangl2 are necessary for kidney growth, differentiation, and rostrocaudal patterning

The mammalian kidney contains nephrons comprising glomeruli and tubules joined to ureteric bud–derived collecting ducts. It has a characteristic bean-like shape, with near-complete rostrocaudal symmetry around the hilum. Here we show that Celsr1, a planar cell polarity (PCP) gene implicated in neural tube morphogenesis, is required for ureteric tree growth in early development and later in gestation prevents tubule overgrowth. We also found an interaction between Celsr1 and Vangl2 (another PCP gene) in ureteric tree growth, most marked in the caudal compartment of the kidneys from compound heterozygous mutant mice with a stunted rump. Furthermore, these genes together are required for the maturation of glomeruli. Interestingly, we demonstrated patients with CELSR1 mutations and spina bifida can have significant renal malformations. Thus, PCP genes are important in mammalian kidney development and have an unexpected role in rostrocaudal patterning during organogenesis

Effect of MWCNTs on Gastric Emptying in Mice

After making model of gastric functional disorder (FD), part of model mice were injected intravenously (i.v.) with oxide multi-walled carbon nanotubes (oMWCNTs) to investigate effect of carbon nanotubes on gastric emptying. The results showed that NO content in stomach, compared with model group, was decreased significantly and close to normal level post-injection with oMWCNTs (500 and 800 μg/mouse). In contrast to FD or normal groups, the content of acetylcholine (Ach) in stomach was increased obviously in injection group with 500 or 800 μg/mouse of oMWCNTs. The kinetic curve of emptying was fitted to calculate gastric motility factor k; the results showed that the k of injection group was much higher than FD and normal. In other words, the gastric motility of FD mice was enhanced via injection with oMWCNTs. In certain dosage, oMWCNTs could improve gastric emptying and motility

Quantitative analysis of late gadolinium enhancement in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: comparison of diagnostic performance in myocardial fibrosis between gadobutrol and gadopentetate dimeglumine

The purpose of this study was to compare different semi-automated late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) quantification techniques using gadobutrol and gadopentetate dimeglumine contrast agents with regard to the diagnosis of fibrotic myocardium in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Thirty patients with HCM underwent two cardiac MRI protocols with use of gadobutrol and gadopentetate dimeglumine. Contrast-tonoise ratio (CNR) between LGE area and remote myocardium (CNRremote), between LGE area and left ventricular blood pool (CNRpool), and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in LGE were compared. The presence and quantity of LGE were determined by visual assessment. With signal threshold versus reference mean (STRM) based thresholds of 2 SD, 5 SD, and 6 SD above the mean signal intensity (SI) of reference myocardium, the full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) technique was used. The volume and segments of the LGE area were compared between the two types of contrast agents. LGE was present in 26 of 30 (86.6%) patients in both protocols. The CNRremote of fibrotic myocardium in gadobutrol and gadopentetate dimeglumine agents was 26.82 ± 14.24 and 21.46 ± 10.59, respectively (P &lt; 0.05). The CNRpool was significantly higher in gadobutrol (9.32 ± 7.64 vs. 6.39 ± 6.11, P &lt; 0.05). The SNR was higher in gadobutrol (33.36 ± 14.35 vs. 27.53 ± 10.91, P &lt; 0.05). The volume of scar size in MR images acquired with gadobutrol were significantly higher than those with gadopentetate dimeglumine (P &lt; 0.05), and the STRM of 5 SD technique showed the greatest agreement with visual assessment (ICC = 0.99) in both examinations. There was no significant difference in fibrotic segments of the fibrotic myocardium in the LGE area (P &lt; 0.05). This study proved that the Gadobutrol was an effective contrast agent for LGE imaging with superior delineation of fibrotic myocardium as compared to gadopentetate dimeglumine. The 5 SD technique yields the closest approximation of the extent of LGE identified by visual assessment

Albumin-Associated Lipids Regulate Human Embryonic Stem Cell Self-Renewal

BACKGROUND: Although human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) hold great promise as a source of differentiated cells to treat several human diseases, many obstacles still need to be surmounted before this can become a reality. First among these, a robust chemically-defined system to expand hESCs in culture is still unavailable despite recent advances in the understanding of factors controlling hESC self-renewal. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study, we attempted to find new molecules that stimulate long term hESC self-renewal. In order to do this, we started from the observation that a commercially available serum replacement product has a strong positive effect on the expansion of undifferentiated hESCs when added to a previously reported chemically-defined medium. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that the active ingredient within the serum replacement is lipid-rich albumin. Furthermore, we show that this activity is trypsin-resistant, strongly suggesting that lipids and not albumin are responsible for the effect. Consistent with this, lipid-poor albumin shows no detectable activity. Finally, we identified the major lipids bound to the lipid-rich albumin and tested several lipid candidates for the effect. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our discovery of the role played by albumin-associated lipids in stimulating hESC self-renewal constitutes a significant advance in the knowledge of how hESC pluripotency is maintained by extracellular factors and has important applications in the development of increasingly chemically defined hESC culture systems

Copy Number Variation in CNP267 Region May Be Associated with Hip Bone Size

Osteoporotic hip fracture (HF) is a serious global public health problem associated with high morbidity and mortality. Hip bone size (BS) has been identified as one of key measurable risk factors for HF, independent of bone mineral density (BMD). Hip BS is highly genetically determined, but genetic factors underlying BS variation are still poorly defined. Here, we performed an initial genome-wide copy number variation (CNV) association analysis for hip BS in 1,627 Chinese Han subjects using Affymetrix GeneChip Human Mapping SNP 6.0 Array and a follow-up replicate study in 2,286 unrelated US Caucasians sample. We found that a copy number polymorphism (CNP267) located at chromosome 2q12.2 was significantly associated with hip BS in both initial Chinese and replicate Caucasian samples with p values of 4.73E-03 and 5.66E-03, respectively. An important candidate gene, four and a half LIM domains 2 (FHL2), was detected at the downstream of CNP267, which plays important roles in bone metabolism by binding to several bone formation regulator, such as insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 5 (IGFBP-5) and androgen receptor (AR). Our findings suggest that CNP267 region may be associated with hip BS which might influence the FHL2 gene downstream