Waterlogging tolerance evaluation of fifteen poplar clones cultivated in the Jianghan Plain of China

To provide references for poplar cultivation in waterlogged prone area of Jianghan Plain of China, the waterlogging tolerance of 15 poplar clones widely cultivated in these areas were evaluated based on their responses to 45-day waterlogging stress followed by 15-day drainage recovery in morphology, growth, biomass accumulation, leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. The results showed that the normal watered seedlings (CK) of the 15 clones grew vigorously during the experiment, and no defoliation and death occurred. For the seedlings under waterlogging treatment (water 10 cm above the soil surface), its morphology changed markedly, including slowing growth, chlorosis and abscission of leaves, development of hypertrophied lenticels and adventitious roots etc. Waterlogging stress significantly inhibited the seedling growth of height and ground diameter, biomass accumulation, as well as leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of the 15 clones with varying degrees. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr), intercellular CO2 concentration/ environmental CO2 concentration (Ci/Ca), variable fluorescence (Fv), variable fluorescence/ initial fluorescence (Fv/Fo) and PS Ⅱ primary light energy conversion efficiency (Fv/Fm) decreased gradually with the prolonged waterlogging, and reached their bottom on day 45. During the terminal recovery stage, the leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of the most clones increased, but their recovery abilities were significantly different. At the end of the experiment, the highest survival rates (100%) were observed in DHY, HS-1, HS-2, I-72, I-69, I-63 and NL-895, and the lowest (zero) occurred in XYY. Survival rates of the other clones ranged from 33.33% to 83.33%. Both results of cluster analysis and membership function analysis showed that HS-1, I-69, DHY, NL-895 and HS-2 had the strongest waterlogging tolerance, XYY and HBY were the worst, and the other clones were moderate. These results would provide guidance not only for the selection of cultivated varieties in Jianghan Plain, but also for the selection of hybrid parents for waterlogging resistance breeding

High-Dose siRNAs Upregulate Mouse Eri-1 at both Transcription and Posttranscription Levels

The eri-1 gene encodes a 3′ exonuclease that can negatively regulate RNA interference via siRNase activity. High-dose siRNAs (hd-siRNAs) can enhance Eri-1 expression, which in return degrade siRNAs and greatly reduces RNAi efficiency. Here we report that hd-siRNAs induce mouse Eri-1 (meri-1) expression through the recruitment of Sp1, Ets-1, and STAT3 to the meri-1 promoter and the formation of an Sp1-Ets-1-STAT3 complex. In addition, hd-siRNAs also abolish the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) mediated posttranscriptional repression of meri-1. Our findings demonstrate the molecular mechanism underlying the upregulation of meri-1 by hd-siRNA

Estudo e Desenvolvimento de Uma Carga Eletronica Regenerativa, Baseada em Inversor Nao-Autonomo, Aplicada a...

Apresenta-se nesse estudo uma nova proposta de carga eletrônica regenerativa (CERE) para testes em equipamentos elétricos que permite que laboratórios de eletrônica de potência realizem ensaios com baixas perdas de energia; nesse caso, o fluxo de potência fornecida pelo equipamento em teste é dirigido quase que totalmente de volta para a rede elétrica, minimizando a dissipação de energia por efeito Joule, diferente do que acontece com o uso de resistores ou cargas eletrônicas convencionais. Do ponto de vista técnico, tais ensaios poderão ter suas características variadas segundo a necessidade de análise do equipamento sob teste, permitindo submetê-os a diferentes condições de funcionamento. O objetivo do protótipo da CERE-CA aqui desenvolvida é apenas comprovar os resultados teóricos e de simulação apresentados na dissertação. Neste primeiro momento, não haverá preocupação com a qualidade da energia que é regenerada para a rede CA, e nem com a precisão do controle do fluxo de corrente drenado da fonte CA. Estas e outras melhorias deverão ser implantadas em pesquisas futuras nessa área de eletrônica de potência

Chronic SIRT1 supplementation in diabetic mice improves endothelial function by suppressing oxidative stress

Aims Enhancing SIRT1 activity exerts beneficial cardiovascular effects. In diabetes, plasma SIRT1 levels are reduced. We aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of chronic recombinant murine SIRT1 (rmSIRT1) supplementation to alleviate endothelial and vascular dysfunction in diabetic mice (db/db). Methods and results Left internal mammary arteries obtained from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with or without a diagnosis of diabetes were assayed for SIRT1 protein levels. Twelve-week-old male db/db mice and db/+ controls were treated with vehicle or rmSIRT1 intraperitoneally for 4 weeks, after which carotid artery pulse wave velocity (PWV) and energy expenditure/activity were assessed by ultrasound and metabolic cages, respectively. Aorta, carotid, and mesenteric arteries were isolated to determine endothelial and vascular function using the myograph system. Arteries obtained from diabetic patients had significantly lower levels of SIRT1 relative to non-diabetics. In line, aortic SIRT1 levels were reduced in db/db mice compared to db/+ mice, while rmSIRT1 supplementation restored SIRT1 levels. Mice receiving rmSIRT1 supplementation displayed increased physical activity and improved vascular compliance as reflected by reduced PWV and attenuated collagen deposition. Aorta of rmSIRT1-treated mice exhibited increased endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) activity, while endothelium-dependent contractions of their carotid arteries were significantly decreased, with mesenteric resistance arteries showing preserved hyperpolarization. Ex vivo incubation with reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger Tiron and NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin revealed that rmSIRT1 leads to preserved vascular function by suppressing NADPH oxidase (NOX)-related ROS synthesis. Chronic rmSIRT1 treatment resulted in reduced expression of both NOX1 and NOX4, in line with a reduction in aortic protein carbonylation and plasma nitrotyrosine levels. Conclusions In diabetic conditions, arterial SIRT1 levels are significantly reduced. Chronic rmSIRT1 supplementation improves endothelial function and vascular compliance by enhancing eNOS activity and suppressing NOX-related oxidative stress. Thus, SIRT1 supplementation may represent novel therapeutic strategy to prevent diabetic vascular disease

The gut microbiome in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

The gut microbiota may play a role in cardiovascular diseases. Here, the authors perform a metagenome-wide association study on stools from individuals with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and healthy controls, identifying microbial strains and functions associated with the disease

Amiloride Enhances Antigen Specific CTL by Faciliting HBV DNA Vaccine Entry into Cells

The induction of relatively weak immunity by DNA vaccines in humans can be largely attributed to the low efficiency of transduction of somatic cells. Although formulation with liposomes has been shown to enhance DNA transduction of cultured cells, little, if any, effect is observed on the transduction of somatic tissues and cells. To improve the rate of transduction, DNA vaccine delivery by gene gun and the recently developed electroporation techniques have been employed. We report here that to circumvent requirement for such equipment, amiloride, a drug that is prescribed for hypertension treatment, can accelerate plasmid entry into antigen presenting cells (APCs) both in vitro and in vivo. The combination induced APCs more dramatically in both maturation and cytokine secretion. Amiloride enhanced development of full CD8 cytolytic function including induction of high levels of antigen specific CTL and expression of IFN-γ+perforin+granzymeB+ in CD8+ T cells. Thus, amiloride is a facilitator for DNA transduction into host cells which in turn enhances the efficiency of the immune responses

Biodegradable Thermosensitive Hydrogel for SAHA and DDP Delivery: Therapeutic Effects on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Xenografts

Background: OSCC is one of the most common malignancies and numerous clinical agents currently applied in combinative chemotherapy. Here we reported a novel therapeutic strategy, SAHA and DDP-loaded PECE (SAHA-DDP/PECE), can improve the therapeutic effects of intratumorally chemotherapy on OSCC cell xenografts. Objective/Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the SAHA-DDP/PECE in situ controlled drug delivery system on OSCC cell xenografts. Methods: A biodegradable and thermosensitive hydrogel was successfully developed to load SAHA and DDP. Tumorbeared mice were intratumorally administered with SAHA-DDP/PECE at 50 mg/kg (SAHA) +2 mg/kg (DDP) in 100 ul PECE hydrogel every two weeks, SAHA-DDP at 50 mg/kg(SAHA) +2 mg/kg(DDP) in NS, 2 mg/kg DDP solution, 50 mg/kg SAHA solution, equal volume of PECE hydrogel, or equal volume of NS on the same schedule, respectively. The antineoplastic actions of SAHA and DDP alone and in combination were evaluated using the determination of tumor volume, immunohistochemistry, western blot, and TUNEL analysis. Results: The hydrogel system was a free-flowing sol at 10uC, become gel at body temperature, and could sustain more than 14 days in situ. SAHA-DDP/PECE was subsequently injected into tumor OSCC tumor-beared mice. The results demonstrated that such a strategy as this allows the carrier system to show a sustained release of SAHA and DDP in vivo, and coul

Novel HYDIN variants associated with male infertility in two Chinese families

IntroductionInfertility is a major disease affecting human life and health, among which male factors account for about half. Asthenoteratozoospermia accounts for the majority of male infertility. High-throughput sequencing techniques have identified numerous variants in genes responsible for asthenoteratozoospermia; however, its etiology still needs to be studied.MethodIn this study, we performed whole-exome sequencing on samples from 375 patients with asthenoteratozoospermia and identified two HYDIN compound heterozygous variants, a primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD)-associated gene, in two unrelated subjects. H&E staining, SEM were employed to analyze the varies on sperm of patients, further, TEM was employed to determine the ultrastructure defects. And westernblot and immunostaining were chose to evaluate the variation of structural protein. ICSI was applied to assist the mutational patient to achieve offspring.ResultWe identified two HYDIN compound heterozygous variants. Patient AY078 had novel compound heterozygous splice variants (c.5969-2A>G, c.6316+1G>A), altering the consensus splice acceptor site of HYDIN. He was diagnosed with male infertility and PCD, presenting with decreased sperm progressive motility and morphological abnormalities, and bronchial dilatation in the inferior lobe. Compared to the fertile control, HYDIN levels, acrosome and centrosome markers (ACTL7A, ACROSIN, PLCζ1, and Centrin1), and flagella components (TOMM20, SEPT4, SPEF2, SPAG6, and RSPHs) were significantly reduced in HYDIN-deficient patients. Using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), the patient successfully achieved clinical pregnancy. AY079 had deleterious compound heterozygous missense variants, c.9507C>G (p. Asn3169Lys) and c.14081G>A (p. Arg4694His), presenting with infertility; however, semen samples and PCD examination were unavailable.DiscussionOur findings provide the first evidence that the loss of HYDIN function causes asthenoteratozoospermia presenting with various defects in the flagella structure and the disassembly of the acrosome and neck. Additionally, ICSI could rescue this failure of insemination caused by immobile and malformed sperm induced by HYDIN deficiency