Effects of UV-B pre-treatments on physiological properties and accumulation of active ingredients in herbal plant, Prunella vulgaris

Aim: The effects of UV-B pretreatment on biosynthesis of active ingredients in Prunella vulgaris L. were studied from three aspects: active ingredients, physiological and biochemical parameters and key enzymes of rosmarinic acid metabolism pathway.Methodology: In greenhouse, the seedlings of P. vulgaris were subjected to UV-B treatment for 30 min from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. every day for 10 days and then transplanted to field. After ripening, the leaves were harvested for physiological and biochemical estimations and the expression of key enzyme genes and the contents of active ingredients were measured by ear picking. Results: The results of active ingredient content showed that artificial UV-B radiation increased the contents of phenolic acids and individual flavonoids at mature fruiting stage compared with control plants. Physiological and biochemical results indicated that increase in peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities seem to be active responses to alleviate the deleterious effects of UV-B in P. vulgaris. Under UV-B pre-treatment, genes related to rosmarinic acid/phenolic acid biosynthesis were significantly (p<0.05) over-expressed at seedling stage of P. vulgaris. Interpretation: This study indicated that UV-B pre-treatment in the seedling stage before transplantation to field is effective for inducing phenolic acid and flavonoid accumulation in P. vulgaris ears at mature fruiting stage.

Abdominal Apoplexy after Pulmonary Lobectomy for Lung Cancer / Apoplejía abdominal tras una lobectomía pulmonar por cáncer de pulmón

ABSTRACT Abdominal apoplexy is a rare clinical entity, and its clinical manifestations are diverse. This case report is of a 52-year-old man who developed right upper abdominal pain with unstable haemodynamics 32 hours after right upper pulmonary lobectomy for lung carcinoma. Abdominal computed tomography showed a ruptured right gastric artery aneurysm.

RESUMEN La apoplejía abdominal es una entidad clínica rara, y sus manifestaciones clínicas son diversas. Este es un reporte de caso de un hombre de 52 años que presentó dolor abdominal superior derecho con hemodinámica inestable, 32 horas después de una lobectomía pulmonar superior derecha por carcinoma del pulmón. La tomografía computarizada abdominal mostró una ruptura de aneurisma de la arteria gástrica derecha.

microRNA-142-3p inhibits apoptosis and inflammation induced by bleomycin through down-regulation of Cox-2 in MLE-12 cells

microRNA (miR)-142-3p is implicated in malignancy and has been identified as a biomarker for aggressive and recurrent lung adenocarcinomas. This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of miR-142-3p on apoptosis and inflammation induced by bleomycin in MLE-12 cells. MLE-12 cells were first transfected either with miR-142-3p mimic or miR-142-3p inhibitor and then the cells were exposed to 50 μg/mL of bleomycin. Thereafter, cell viability, apoptosis and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines were assessed using CCK-8, flow cytometry, RT-PCR and western blot analyses. Cox-2, PI3K, AKT and mTOR expressions were detected by western blotting after bleomycin was administered together with NS-398 (an inhibitor of Cox-2). As a result, cell viability was significantly decreased, as well as apoptosis and the expression of IL-1 and TNF-α were remarkably increased after 50 and 100 μg/mL of bleomycin administration. miR-142-3p overexpression alleviated bleomycin-induced apoptosis and overproduction of these two pro-inflammatory cytokines, while miR-142-3p suppression exhibited completely opposite results. Up-regulation of Cox-2 and inactivation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR were found in bleomycin-pretreated cells, while these abnormal regulations were partially abolished by miR-142-3p overexpression and NS-398. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that miR-142-3p overexpression protected bleomycin-induced injury in lung epithelial MLE-12 cells, possibly via regulating Cox-2 expression and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. These findings provide evidence that miR-142-3p may be a therapeutic strategy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) treatment.

Seroprevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii in sheep and goats in Jinzhou, Northeastern China

In the present study, serum samples from 402 sheep and 216 goats were collected from 5 counties in Jinzhou from August to October 2012 and antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii were detected by modified agglutination test (MAT). Overall, 104 (16.8%) had antibodies to T. gondii with antibody titres of 1:25 to 1:800. Seropositive samples were distributed in all the 5 counties and seroprevalences of T. gondii varied significantly with flock size, age and rearing system, but not with breed, gender and farm location. The seroprevalences in small farms (18.3%, 95/518, 95% confidence interval [CI], 15.0-21.7%) were statistically higher than that in large farms (9%, 9/100, 95% CI, 3.4-14.6%) (P < 0.05), older animals were statistically higher than that in younger animals (P < 0.01). The prevalence in extensively and semiintensively raised samples was statistically higher than that in intensively raised animals (P < 0.01). Small flock size and extensive rearing system are the potential risk factors for the prevalence of Toxoplasma infection in sheep and goats in Jinzhou. This is the first report of T. gondii infection in sheep and goats in Jinzhou, northeastern China, and of an association of seropositivity to T. gondii and the risk factors.

X-cephalometric study of different parts of the upper airway space and changes in hyoid position following mandibular fractures / Estudio cefalométrico con rayos X de diferentes partes del espacio de las vías respiratorias superiores y cambios en la posición hioidea tras fracturas mandibulares

OBJECTIVE: This study analyses the different parts of the upper airway space and the changes in hyoid position. The results provide a clinical reference for developing timely and effective treatment programmes for patients with mandibular fractures caused by maxillofacial trauma. METHODS: Standard X-cephalometric measurements of the lateral skull of 210 subjects were taken. The subjects were divided into four fracture groups: condylar, mandibular angle, mandibular body, and parasymphyseal. RESULTS: The radiographs of the mandibular fracture groups were compared with the normal occlusion group to analyse the upper airway space and the changes in hyoid position. Different types of fractures have different effects on the upper airway space. Bilateral mandibular body fracture and the parasymphyseal fracture have a significant influence on the lower oropharyngeal and laryngopharyngeal airway spaces, with serious obstructions severely restricting the ventilatory function ofpatients. CONCLUSIONS: Fractures at different parts of the mandibular structure are closely related to the upper airway and hyoid position.

OBJETIVO: Este estudio analiza las diferentes partes del espacio de las vías respiratorias superiores y los cambios de posición hioidea. Los resultados proporcionan una referencia clínica para desarrollar programas de tratamiento oportuno y eficaz para los pacientes con fracturas de la mandíbula, causadas por trauma maxilofacial. MÉTODOS: Se hicieron mediciones X-cefalométricas estándares del cráneo lateral a 210 sujetos. Los sujetos fueron divididos en cuatro grupos de fractura: ángulo mandibular, condilar, cuerpo mandibular y parasinfisaria. RESULTADOS: Las radiografías de los grupos de fractura mandibular fueron comparadas con el grupo de oclusión normal para analizar el espacio de las vías respiratorias superiores y los cambios de posición hioidea. Diferentes tipos de fracturas tienen diferentes efectos sobre el espacio de las vías respiratorias superiores. La fractura de cuerpo mandibular bilateral y la fractura de parasinfisaria tienen una influencia significativa en los espacios de las vías respiratorias orofaríngea y laringofaríngea inferiores, con serios obstáculos restringiendo severamente la función respiratoria de los pacientes. CONCLUSIONES: Las fracturas en diferentes partes de la estructura mandibular se hallan estrechamente vinculadas a las vías respiratorias superiores y a la posición hioidea.

Three novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the bovine LHX3 gene.

The LHX3 gene encodes LIM homeodomain class transcription factors that have important roles to play in pituitary and nervous system development.On the one hand,mutations of LHX3 are associated with deficiencies of growth hormone (GH),prolactin (PRL),luteotrophic hormone (LH),follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)and thyroid- stimulating hormone (TSH);on the other hand,mutations of LHX3 are also associated with combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) diseases in human and animal models.To date,few polymorphisms of the bovine LHX3 gene have been reported.In this study,polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP)and DNA sequencing methods were employed to screen the genetic variations within the bovine LHX3 gene in 802 Chinese indigenous cattle.The results revealed three novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): AY923832: g.7553G >A, 7631C>T and 7668C>G.Among them,a synonymous mutation of exon II was identified: GAG ((Glu)> GAA (Glu) at position 72 aa (AY923832:g.7553G>A) of LHX3 ((403aa) in the four Chinese bovine breeds.Significant statistical differences in genotypic frequencies for exon II and its flanking region of the LHX3 gene implied that the polymorphic locus was significantly associated with cattle breeds by the X2-test (X2=68.975,df=6, P <0.001).Hence,the three novel SNPs not only extend the spectrum of genetic variations of the bovine LHX3 gene, but could also possibly contribute to conducting association analysis and evaluating these as genetic markers in bovine breeding and genetics,and CPHD detection.