Abstract Aplastic anemia (AA), a rare disorder, is associated with bone marrow microenvironment (BMM). Presently, AA treatment is of great difficulty. This study aimed to explore the mechanism of action of Rehmannia glutinosa polysaccharide (RGP) in AA. Busulfan was used to induce AA in BALB/c mice; blood cell count and Ray’s Giemsa staining were used to assess the severity of hematopoietic failure; HE was performed to assess the pathological state of the marrow cavity; ELISA was performed to assess IL-4, IL-10, IL-6, IL-12, IL-1β, TNF-α, MCP-1, VEGF, and EPO; and WB was performed to evaluate the effects of RGP on the HIF-1α/NF-κB signaling. Significant downregulation of hemocyte levels in the blood and nucleated cells in the bone marrow was reversed by RGP and Cyclosporine A (CA). Compared with the AA group, dilating blood sinusoids, inflammation, hematopoiesis, decreased bone marrow cells and megakaryocytes were alleviated by RGP and CA, and the HIF-1α/NF-κB signaling was inhibited too. Notably, RGP was more effective when used in combination with CA. In this study, we established a relationship between BMM and the HIF-1α/NF-κB signaling pathway and found that RGP regulates BMM by suppressing the activation of the HIF-1α/NF-κB signaling. Thus, RGP exerts a pharmacological effect on AA.

Abstract Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a maternally inherited trait that derives from the inability to produce functional pollen in higher plants. CMS results from recombination of the mitochondrial genome. However, understanding of the molecular mechanism of CMS in pepper is limited. In this study, comparative transcriptomic analyses were performed using a near-isogenic CMS line 14A (CMS-14A) and a maintainer line 14B (ML-14B) as experimental materials. A total of 17,349 differentially expressed genes were detected between CMS-14A and ML-14B at the PMC meiosis stage. Among them, six unigenes associated with CMS and 108 unigenes involved in energy metabolism were identified. The gene orf165 was found in CMS-14A. When orf165 was introduced into ML-14B, almost 30% of transgenic plants were CMS. In addition, orf165 expression in transgenic CMS plants resulted in abnormal function of some genes involved in energy metabolism. When orf165 in transgenic CMS plant was silenced, the resulted orf165-silenced plant was male fertile and the expression patterns of some genes associated with energy metabolism were similar to ML-14B. Thus, we confirmed that orf165 influenced CMS in pepper.

Abstract Background: LincRNAs have been revealed to be tightly associated with various tumorigeneses and cancer development, but the roles of specific lincRNA on tumor-related angiogenesis was hardly studied. Here, we aimed to investigate whether linc-OIP5 in breast cancer cells affects the angiogenesis of HUVECs and whether the linc-OIP5 regulations are involved in angiogenesis-related Notch and Hippo signaling pathways. Methods: A trans-well system co-cultured HUVECs with linc-OIP5 knockdown breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231 was utilized to study the proliferation, migration and tube formation abilities of HUVECs and alterations of related signaling indicators in breast cancer cells and their conditioned medium through a series of cell and molecular experiments. Results: Overexpressed linc-OIP5, YAP1, and JAG1 were found in breast cancer cell lines MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 and the expression levels of YAP1 and JAG1 were proportional to the breast cancer tissue grades. MDA-MB-231 cells with linc-OIP5 knockdown led to weakened proliferation, migration, and tube formation capacity of co-cultured HUVECs. Besides, linc-OIP5 knockdown in co-cultured MDA-MB-231 cells showed downregulated YAP1 and JAG1 expression, combined with a reduced JAG1 level in conditioned medium. Furthermore, a disrupted DLL4/Notch/NRP1 signaling in co-cultured HUVECs were also discovered under this condition. Conclusion: Hence, linc-OIP5 in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells may act on the upstream of the YAP1/Notch/NRP1 signaling circuit to affect proliferation, migration, and tube formation of co-cultured HUVECs in a non-cellular direct contact way through JAG1 in conditioned medium. These findings at least partially provide a new angiogenic signaling circuit in breast cancers and suggest linc-OIP5 could be considered as a therapeutic target in angiogenesis of breast cancers.

Abstract The measurement of gene expression can provide important information about gene function and the molecular basis for developmental processes. We analyzed the transcriptomes at three different developmental stages of pepper flower [sporogenous cell division, stage (B1); pollen mother cell meiosis, stage (B2); and open flower (B3)]. In the cDNA libraries for B1, B2, and B3: 82718, 77061, and 91491 unigenes were assembled, respectively. A total of 34,445 unigene sequences and 128 pathways were annotated by KEGG pathway analysis. Several genes associated with nectar biosynthesis and nectary development were identified, and 8,955, 12,182, and 23,667 DEGs were identified in the B2 vs B1, B3 vs B1, and B3 vs. B2 comparisons. DEGs were involved in various metabolic processes, including flower development, nectar biosynthesis, and nectary development. According to the RNA-seq data, all 13 selected DEGs showed similar expression patterns after q-PCR analysis. Sucrose-phosphatase, galactinol-sucrose galactosyltransferase, and sucrose synthase played very important roles in nectar biosynthesis, and CRABS CLAW could potentially be involved in mediating nectary development. A significant number of simple sequence repeat and single nucleotide polymorphism markers were predicted in the Capsicum annuum sequences. The new results provide valuable genetic information about flower development in pepper.

OBJECTIVES: to investigate the quality of life and the associated factors on left behind elderly in rural China.METHOD: the research was conducted cluster sampling to select 456 elderly left behind when family members migrated out of rural China to participate in a cross-sectional study by completing a general data questionnaire and Quality of Life questionnaire.RESULTS: 91.5% of the elderly requested psychological counseling and education. For the elderly, scores for mental health (39.56±13.73) were significantly lower compared with Chinese standard data (61.6±13.7) (P<0.001). Age, chronic disease type, gender, residence pattern and economic support from children were the main psychological factors influencing this population.CONCLUSION: mental health is the most important factor influencing quality of life of elderly left behind when family members migrated out of rural China. Our study suggested a need to widely establish a general practitioner team for psychological intervention for improving rural elderly people's Quality of Life level, especially in the psychological domain.

OBJETIVOS: investigar la calidad de vida y los factores asociados a los adultos mayores que se quedan en las zonas rurales de China.MÉTODO: la investigación se realizó por medio de muestreo por conglomerados para seleccionar 456 adultos mayores que se quedaron cuando los miembros de la familia emigraron de zonas rurales de China, para participar en un estudio de corte transversal, completando un cuestionario de datos generales y cuestionario de calidad de vida.RESULTADOS: el 91.5% de los adultos mayores solicitó asistencia psicológica y educación. Para los adultos mayores, las puntuaciones de salud mental (39.56±13.73) fueron significativamente más bajos en comparación con los datos estándar de China (61.6±13.7) (p<0.001). La edad, el tipo de enfermedad crónica, el género, el patrón de residencia y el apoyo económico de los hijos fueron los principales factores psicológicos que influencian esta población.CONCLUSIÓN: la salud mental es el factor más importante que influye la calidad de vida de los adultos mayores que se quedan cuando los miembros de la familia emigran de las zonas rurales de China. Nuestro estudio sugiere la necesidad de establecer ampliamente un equipo médico general para la intervención psicológica para mejorar el nivel de la Calidad de Vida de la población rural de edad avanzada, sobre todo en el dominio psicológico.

OBJETIVOS: investigar a qualidade de vida e fatores associados de idosos deixados para trás na China rural.MÉTODO: foi realizada amostragem por conglomerado para selecionar 456 idosos deixados para trás quando os membros da família emigram da China rural. Este é um estudo transversal com preenchimento de um questionário de dados gerais e de qualidade de vida.RESULTADOS: 91,5% dos idosos convidados solicitaram aconselhamento e educação psicológicos. Para os idosos, os escores de saúde mental (39,56±13,73) foram significativamente menores em comparação aos dados padrões chineses (61,6±13,7) (p<0,001). A idade, tipo de doença crônica, gênero, tipo de moradia e suporte econômico dos filhos foram os principais fatores psicológicos que influenciaram essa população.CONCLUSÃO: a saúde mental é o fator mais importante que influencia a qualidade de vida de idosos deixados para trás quando os familiares emigraram da China rural. Este estudo sugere a necessidade de criação de ampla equipe de generalistas para intervenção psicológica, com o intuito de melhorar o nível de qualidade de vida de idosos de áreas rurais, especialmente no domínio psicológico.

OBJETIVOS: investigar a qualidade de vida e fatores associados de idosos deixados para trás na China rural.MÉTODO: foi realizada amostragem por conglomerado para selecionar 456 idosos deixados para trás quando os membros da família emigram da China rural. Este é um estudo transversal com preenchimento de um questionário de dados gerais e de qualidade de vida.RESULTADOS: 91,5% dos idosos convidados solicitaram aconselhamento e educação psicológicos. Para os idosos, os escores de saúde mental (39,56±13,73) foram significativamente menores em comparação aos dados padrões chineses (61,6±13,7) (p<0,001). A idade, tipo de doença crônica, gênero, tipo de moradia e suporte econômico dos filhos foram os principais fatores psicológicos que influenciaram essa população.CONCLUSÃO: a saúde mental é o fator mais importante que influencia a qualidade de vida de idosos deixados para trás quando os familiares emigraram da China rural. Este estudo sugere a necessidade de criação de ampla equipe de generalistas para intervenção psicológica, com o intuito de melhorar o nível de qualidade de vida de idosos de áreas rurais, especialmente no domínio psicológico.

OBJECTIVES: to investigate the quality of life and the associated factors on left behind elderly in rural China.METHOD: the research was conducted cluster sampling to select 456 elderly left behind when family members migrated out of rural China to participate in a cross-sectional study by completing a general data questionnaire and Quality of Life questionnaire.RESULTS: 91.5% of the elderly requested psychological counseling and education. For the elderly, scores for mental health (39.56±13.73) were significantly lower compared with Chinese standard data (61.6±13.7) (P<0.001). Age, chronic disease type, gender, residence pattern and economic support from children were the main psychological factors influencing this population.CONCLUSION: mental health is the most important factor influencing quality of life of elderly left behind when family members migrated out of rural China. Our study suggested a need to widely establish a general practitioner team for psychological intervention for improving rural elderly people's Quality of Life level, especially in the psychological domain.

OBJETIVOS: investigar la calidad de vida y los factores asociados a los adultos mayores que se quedan en las zonas rurales de China.MÉTODO: la investigación se realizó por medio de muestreo por conglomerados para seleccionar 456 adultos mayores que se quedaron cuando los miembros de la familia emigraron de zonas rurales de China, para participar en un estudio de corte transversal, completando un cuestionario de datos generales y cuestionario de calidad de vida.RESULTADOS: el 91.5% de los adultos mayores solicitó asistencia psicológica y educación. Para los adultos mayores, las puntuaciones de salud mental (39.56±13.73) fueron significativamente más bajos en comparación con los datos estándar de China (61.6±13.7) (p<0.001). La edad, el tipo de enfermedad crónica, el género, el patrón de residencia y el apoyo económico de los hijos fueron los principales factores psicológicos que influencian esta población.CONCLUSIÓN: la salud mental es el factor más importante que influye la calidad de vida de los adultos mayores que se quedan cuando los miembros de la familia emigran de las zonas rurales de China. Nuestro estudio sugiere la necesidad de establecer ampliamente un equipo médico general para la intervención psicológica para mejorar el nivel de la Calidad de Vida de la población rural de edad avanzada, sobre todo en el dominio psicológico.

Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) is a mitochondrial flavoprotein that mediates both NADH-oxidizing and caspase-independent apoptosis. Further, the proapoptotic activity of AIF is located in the C-terminus of AIF, although the precise minimum sequence responsible for apoptosis induction remains to be investigated. In the present study, we generated two truncated AIFs, AIFΔ1-480-FLAG, which is a FLAG-tagged C-terminal peptide comprising amino acids from 481 to 613, and AIF360-480 containing amino acids from 360 to 480 of AIF. We used confocal microscopy to demonstrate that both the truncated proteins are expressed and located in the cytoplasm of transfected cells. AIFΔ1-480 but not AIF360-480 induces apoptosis in transfected cells. We also found that the expression of AIFΔ1-480 could initiate the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria. The suppression of caspase-9 via siRNA blocked the proapoptotic activity of AIFΔ1-480. Therefore, AIFΔ 1-480 is sufficient for inducing caspase-9-dependent apoptotic signaling, probably by promoting the release of cytochrome c. At last, we generated a chimeric immuno-AIFΔ 1-480 protein, which comprised an HER2 antibody, a Pseudomonas exotoxin A translocation domain and AIFΔ 1-480. Human Jurkat cells transfected with the immuno-AIFΔl-480 gene could express and secrete the chimeric protein, which selectively recognize and kill HER2-overexpressing tumor cells. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of the immuno-AIFΔl-480 gene as a novel approach to treating HER2-overexpressing cancers.