MicroRNA-207 enhances radiation-induced apoptosis by directly targeting Akt3 in cochlea hair cells.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have important roles in various types of cellular biological processes. Our study aimed to determine whether miRNAs function in the regulation of ionizing radiation (IR)-induced cell death in auditory cells and to determine how they affect the cellular response to IR. Microarray and qRT-PCR were performed to identify and confirm the differential expression of miRNAs in the cochlea hair cell line HEI-OC1 and in vivo after IR. Upregulation or downregulation of miRNAs using miRNA mimics or inhibitor were detected to characterize the biological effects of the indicated miRNAs. Bioinformatic analyses, luciferase reporter assays and mRNA knockdown were performed to identify a miRNA target gene. We determined that miR-207 was significantly upregulated after IR. MiR-207 enhances IR-induced apoptosis and DNA damage in HEI-OC1 cells. Furthermore, Akt3 was confirmed to be a direct target of miR-207. Downregulation of Akt3 mimics the effects of miR-207. MiR-207 enhances IR-induced apoptosis by directly targeting Akt3 and anti-miR-207 may have a potential role in protecting cochlea hair cells from IR.

Effect of a carbohydrate-containing late-evening snack on energy metabolism and fasting substrate utilization in adults with acute-on-chronic liver failure due to Hepatitis B.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the effects of a carbohydrate (CHO; lotus-root starch) predominant, late-evening snack (LES), containing 200 kcal (50 g CHO) on fasting resting energy expenditure (REE) and nutrient oxidation in hospitalized adults with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). SUBJECTS/METHODS: Adults with ACLF were randomized to receive daily LES (treatment; n=35) or standard care (n=35; non-supplemented control) for 14 days. REE and respiratory quotient (RQ) were measured by indirect calorimetry, nutrient oxidation (CHO, protein and fat), intake and biochemical parameters were measured in both groups at baseline and after 14 days using validated techniques. Disease severity was measured using the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD). RESULTS: No significant differences in macronutrient intake, anthropometric, demographic characteristics or MELD scores were observed between groups at baseline (P>0.05). Fasting RQ was significantly higher in the LES supplemented verses the control group after 2 weeks (P=0.02). CHO oxidation was significantly higher (P=0.001) and fat oxidation (P=0.02) was lower in the LES-supplemented group when compared with controls after 2 weeks. Fasting RQ and REE in the LES-supplemented group increased significantly (0.83 verses 0.88; P=0.007/1301±409 vs 1687±718 kcal/day; P=0.02) in patients with MELD scores 30 when compared with patients with MELD scores >30 (0.82 verses 0.84; P=0.27/ 1361±405 vs 1437±429 kcal/day; P=0.67) after supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: A carbohydrate-predominant LES is associated with increases in fasting carbohydrate oxidation, REE and reductions in fat oxidation in adults with ACLF. Therapeutic strategies utilizing LES may promote improved nutritional status in adults with ACLF.

Synthesis and characterization of Fe doped CeO2 nanoparticles for pigmented ultraviolet filter applications.

Iron doped CeO2 nanoparticles with doping concentrations between 0 and 30 mol% were synthesized by the co-precipitation method for potential application as a pigmented ultraviolet filtration material. Each sample was calcined in air and in argon. The iron solubility limit in the CeO2 lattice was found to be between 10 and 20 mol%. Raman spectroscopy results revealed that both iron doping and argon calcination increase the concentration of oxygen vacancies in the CeO2 lattice. Iron doping causes a blue-shift of the absorbance spectrum, which can be linked to the decreased crystallite size, as obtained by XRD peak broadening using the Scherrer formula. The undoped samples showed weak ferromagnetic behaviour whereas the doped samples were all paramagnetic.

One-dimensional multiferroic bismuth ferrite fibers obtained by electrospinning techniques.

We report the fabrication of novel multiferroic nanostructured bismuth ferrite (BiFeO(3)) fibers using the sol-gel based electrospinning technique. Phase pure BiFeO(3) fibers were prepared by thermally annealing the electrospun BiFeO(3)/polyvinylpyrrolidone composite fibers in air for 1 h at 600 °C. The x-ray diffraction pattern of the fibers (BiFeO(3)) obtained showed that their crystalline structures were rhombohedral perovskite structures. Both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed that the BiFeO(3) fibers were composed of fine grained microstructures. The grains were self-assembled and self-organized to yield dense and continuous fibrous structures. The magnetic hysteresis loops of these nanostructured fibers displayed the expected ferromagnetic behavior, whereby a coercivity of ∼ 250 Oe and a saturation magnetization of ∼ 1.34 emu g(-1) were obtained. The ferroelectricity and ferroelectric domain structures of the fibers were confirmed using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). The piezoelectric hysteresis loops and polar domain switching behavior of the fibers were examined. Such multiferroic fibers are significant for electroactive applications and nano-scale devices.

Fetal responses to different intensity levels of vibroacoustic stimulation.

The fetal responses to three different intensity levels of vibroacoustic stimulation (mean 92, 103, and 109 dB) were investigated in 275 pregnant women between 32-42 weeks of gestation. A 103-dB and a 109-dB stimulation aroused fetal movements, perceived by the mother, significantly more often than did a 92-dB stimulation (P less than .05 and P less than .01, respectively). Fetal heart rate (FHR) accelerations occurred slightly more often at a 109-dB stimulation than at a 92-dB level, but the difference was not significant. In the second part of the study, the three modes of stimulation were compared under standardized conditions in ten normal patients. The immediate reaction concerning fetal body movements as measured by the mother or the observer and FHR accelerations were the same as described earlier. There was a significant delayed increase of fetal gross body movements after 8 minutes at the 103- and 109-dB stimulation levels. Thus, the fetal response to vibroacoustic stimulation changes with different intensity levels.