Myb proteins inhibit fibroblast transformation by v-Rel

Genes that cause cancer have been divided into two general classes – oncogenes that act in a dominant fashion to transform normal cells into a malignant state, and tumor suppressor genes that act in a dominant fashion to prevent such transformation. In this report, we demonstrate that both the v-myb retroviral oncogene, which causes leukemic transformation of hematopoietic cells, and the c-myb proto-oncogene can also function as inhibitors of fibroblast transformation by the v-rel oncogene. These results imply that the myb genes can function either as oncogenes or as tumor suppressors in different cellular contexts

Electrochemical-driven water reduction catalyzed by a water soluble cobalt(III) complex with Schiff base ligand

A B S T R A C T A new molecular catalyst based on cobalt complex [LCoCl] (1) is formed by the reaction of N, N-dimethylethylenediamino-N,N-bis(2,4-dimethyl) phenol (H 2 L) with CoCl 2 Á6H 2 O for electrolytic water reduction. To our knowledge 1 is by far the most active electrocatalyst for hydrogen generation from water with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 2744 mol of hydrogen per mole of catalyst per hour at an overpotential of À638 mV (pH 7.0). This is attributed to the ionic ligand, L 2À , that coordinates strongly through two nitrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms to the cobalt center, leaving one Cl À ion in axial position and making the Cl À ion ionize in water

Costunolide causes mitotic arrest and enhances radiosensitivity in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Purpose</p> <p>This work aimed to investigate the effect of costunolide, a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from <it>Michelia compressa</it>, on cell cycle distribution and radiosensitivity of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The assessment used in this study included: cell viability assay, cell cycle analysis by DNA histogram, expression of phosphorylated histone H3 (Ser 10) by flow cytometer, mitotic index by Liu's stain and morphological observation, mitotic spindle alignment by immunofluorescence of alpha-tubulin, expression of cell cycle-related proteins by Western blotting, and radiation survival by clonogenic assay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our results show that costunolide reduced the viability of HA22T/VGH cells. It caused a rapid G2/M arrest at 4 hours shown by DNA histogram. The increase in phosphorylated histone H3 (Ser 10)-positive cells and mitotic index indicates costunolide-treated cells are arrested at mitosis, not G2, phase. Immunofluorescence of alpha-tubulin for spindle formation further demonstrated these cells are halted at metaphase. Costunolide up-regulated the expression of phosphorylated Chk2 (Thr 68), phosphorylated Cdc25c (Ser 216), phosphorylated Cdk1 (Tyr 15) and cyclin B1 in HA22T/VGH cells. At optimal condition causing mitotic arrest, costunolide sensitized HA22T/VGH HCC cells to ionizing radiation with sensitizer enhancement ratio up to 1.9.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Costunolide could reduce the viability and arrest cell cycling at mitosis in hepatoma cells. Logical exploration of this mitosis-arresting activity for cancer therapeutics shows costunolide enhanced the killing effect of radiotherapy against human HCC cells.</p

Cloning and characterization of functional keratinassociated protein 5-4 gene in maize

Keratin-associated proteins (KAPs) 5-4 which belongs to keratin-associated protein (KRTAP) type 5 family has two major groups: high/ultrahigh cysteine (HS) and high glycine-tyrosine (HGT). Based on bioinformatic prediction, we experimentally cloned a fragment containingan open reading frame of 1849 bp from maize, which encodes a protein of 408 amino acids. BLAST analysis indicated that KAP5-4 is homologous to the qPE9-1 protein in rice. Conserved domains analysis predicted the presence of five domains. Real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) indicated that the expression of this gene is up-regulated in response to water-deficit stress in the root and leaf.Keywords: Maize, keratin-associated protein 5-4, water-deficit stress.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 11(29), pp. 7417-7423, 10 April, 201

Further improvement of N6 medium for callus induction and plant regeneration from maize immature embryos

To explore the possibility to improve N6 medium for callus induction and plant regeneration from maize immature embryos, comparative experiments were conducted to screen the optimal calcium concentration for the callus induction medium and the subculture medium modified from N6 medium and to examine the effects of uniconazole and ABT root promoting powder supplement on plant regeneration and root generation. According to the results, the calcium concentration of N6 medium was increased from 1.13 to 5 mmol/l for callus induction and subculture. Uniconazole from 0.25 and 0.5 mg/l and ABT root promoting powder of 0.5 mg/l were suggested to be supplemented to the regeneration medium and the root generation, separately. On these improved media, the frequency of callus induction, the relative proliferation rate of callus subculture, the regeneration rate and the average root biomass of the regenerated plantlets increased significantly. All these improvements facilitate the establishment of acceptor system from elite parental inbred lines of commercial hybrids and provide a solid basis for transgenic manipulation of maize.Keywords: ABT root-promoting powder, calcium, callus induction, immature embryo, maize, N6 medium, plant regeneration, uniconazol

Clinical efficacy and safety of edaravone therapy in acute cerebral haemorrhage

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of edaravone in the treatment of acute cerebral haemorrhage (ACH).Methods: This study recruited 120 patients who developed ACH. The patients were divided into control and treatment groups with 60 patients per group. The control group underwent conventional treatment and the treatment group also received intravenous edaravone. The volumes of cerebral edema and cerebral hematoma, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, and Chinese Stroke Scale (CSS) score before and after treatment were compared between the two groups.Results: The respective cerebral edema volumes of the control and treatment groups decreased from 20.99 ± 12.09 and 21.80 ± 12.01 mL on day 0 to 11.23 ± 6.34 and 12.11 ± 5.98 mL at day 7 and 4.69 ± 4.03 and 4.64 ± 3.9 mL on day 14 (P &lt; 0.05). The respective cerebral hematoma volumes of the control and treatment groups decreased from 18.98 ± 12.04 and 18.97 ± 12.07 mL on day 0 to 12.34 ± 6.57 and 11.89 ± 4.01 mL at day 7 and 9.49 ± 3.95 and 9.52 ± 3.96 mL on day 14. Compared with pretreatment, hs-CRP and IL-6 levels and CSS score of the two groups decreased significantly following treatment (p &lt; 0.05); the differences in the cerebral edema and hematoma volumes of the two groups on days 7 and 14 were not significant (p &gt; 0.05). The hs-CRP and IL-6 levels and CSS scores of the treatment group decreased appreciably (p &lt; 0.05), while the incidence of adverse reactions in the treatment and control groups was 16.67 and 13.33 %, respectively, but the difference was not significant (p &gt; 0.05).Conclusion: Edaravone shows remarkable clinical efficacy and safety with no obvious adverse reactions in the treatment of ACH. Therefore, its use is recommended.Keywords: Cerebral haemorrhage, Edaravone, Cerebral edema, C-reactive protein, Interleukin-6, Chinese Stroke Scal

Absorption Properties of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter in Highly-Polluted Yundang Lagoon, China

AbstractOptical properties of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) from highly polluted Yundang Lagoon, China were investigated from April 2008 to June 2009. The absorption spectra of DOM from this polluted saline lake resembled that of DOM from other natural environments. The spatial distribution of absorption coefficients at 280nm (a280) indicated that sewage discharge was the main source of CDOM in this lagoon. A notable seasonal variation of a280 was observed from spring of 2008 to spring of 2009, indicating the reduction in sewage discharge from municipal works. Most values of spectral slope ratio (SR) of CDOM absorption were >1, implying that sewage-derived DOM has a low molecular weight. There was a significant linear correlation between a280 and the DOC concentration, demonstrating the feasibility to use optical properties of DOM to assess the degree of organic pollution in highly-polluted aquatic environments

Love Postoperative ECG Shell (I)

Ongoing cutting-edge multidisciplinary research in textile fibers, biomedical sensors, and wireless and mobile telecommunications integrated with telemedicine, aims at developing intelligent biomedical clothing (IBC). This ECG shell design is a functional garment offering, health benefits, improved appearance and increased comfort. The garment is more comfortable because the high adhesive factor of current commercial hydrogel used in ECG monitoring causes patients skin allergies and pruritus from wearing the hydrogel for a long time

Food Traceability Systems, Consumers’ Risk Perception, and Purchase Intention: Evidence from the “4-label-1-Q” Approach in Taiwan

Many food safety issues have arisen in Taiwan during the past decade. Therefore, in 2016, the Taiwan government proposed the "five rings of food safety" policy to comprehensively protect consumer food supply. Among these policies, the "4-labels-1-Q" approach was adopted to ensure the selection of foods with traceable labels for retrospective study. Hence, this study investigated the association between the degree of familiarity with the 4-labels-1-Q food traceability system and risk perceptions and also investigated whether a consumer's purchase intention toward fresh foods with food labels changed after viewing an educational film on food labels. This study defined subjects as the main food purchasers for their families; 290 valid questionnaire interviews were administered and educational films shown in Tainan markets and stores. Results showed that knowledge about labels significantly affected risk perception for labeling. Age, educational level, and degree of risk perception influenced purchase intention. Results also showed that after viewing the video, subjects' label knowledge and purchase intention increased significantly. However, after adjustment for age, educational level, income, and purchase places, the effect of film education on risk perception was insignificant, especially for those who had lower educational levels, including those older than 65 years. Public trust can be boosted through label education among age groups using different channels and methods, and encouraging the sale of labeled foods in traditional markets would be a useful strategy. Age, educational level, income, and risk perception of participants significantly affected purchase intention. This study can be a reference for designing risk communication strategies and promoting traceable agricultural products