The steroid-induced microRNA let-7 regulates developmental growth by targeting cdc7 in the Drosophila fat body.

In insects, 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) limits systemic growth by triggering developmental transitions. Previous studies have shown that 20E-induced let-7 exhibits crosstalk with the cell cycle. Here, we examined the underlying molecular mechanisms and physiological functions of 20E-induced let-7 in the fat body, an organ for energy storage and nutrient mobilization which plays a critical role in the larval growth. First, the overexpression of let-7 decreased the body size and led to the reduction of both nucleolus and cell sizes in the larval fat body. In contrast, the overexpression of let-7-Sponge increased the nucleolus and cell sizes. Moreover, we found that cdc7, encoding a conserved protein kinase that controls the endocycle, is a target of let-7. Notably, the mutation of cdc7 in the fat body resulted in growth defects. Overall, our findings revealed a novel role of let-7 in the control of endoreduplication-related growth during larval-prepupal transition in Drosophila.

[Effect of Yunnan herb Laggera pterodonta against influenza A (H1N1) virus in vitro].

Laggera pterodonta is commonly used for treating influenza in Southwest China, especially in Yunnnan province. The main clinical effects of L. pterodonta include anti-influenza, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory. To investigate the anti-influenza A (H1N1) virus effect of L. pterodonta, neutralization inhibition and proliferation inhibition tests were performed. MDCK culture method was used to observe the cytopathic effect (CPE) of extracts from L. pterodonta in inhibiting influenza A (H1N1) virus and haemagglutination titre of H1N1 virus in vitro. The culture medium were collected at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 96 h, and detected by Real time RT-PCR, in order to compare the effect of different extracts from L. pterodonta on in vitro proliferation of H1N1, virus. The result of neutralization inhibition test showed that hemagglutination titer of ethyl acetate extract were 8 times lower at 72 h; in proliferation inhibition test, hemagglutination titer of ethyl acetate extracts reduced by 2 and 4 times. According to the results of Real time RT-PCR test, the H1N1 inhibition ratio of ethyl acetate extract was 72.5%, while the proliferation inhibition ratio of ethyl acetate extract was 25.3%; as for petroleum ether extracts, the H1N1 inhibition ratio was 60.2%, while the proliferation inhibition ratio was 81.4%. In conclusion, both ethyl acetate extract and petroleum ether extract of L. pterodonta have significant neutralization and direct proliferation inhibition effects on influenza A virus.

[Curative effect of Ruangan pills in treatment of schistosomiasis liver fibrosis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy, mechanism and safety of silibinin combined with Ruangan pills (a Chinese herbal preparation) in the treatment of schistosomiasis liver fibrosis. METHODS: A total of 200 patients with schistosomiasis liver fibrosis were randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group, and 100 patients in each group were respectively administered with oral silibinin alone and oral silibinin combined with Ruangan pills, respectively. The curative effects in the two groups were evaluated in 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months respectively. RESULTS: The common five clinical symptoms of schistosomiasis liver fibrosis patients significantly relieved in the treatment group 12 months after the therapy, and the total efficiency reached more than 75%, which were significantly higher than that in the control group. In the treatment group and the control group, there was no improvement in the liver B ultrasonic classification 3 months and 6 months after the therapy (P > 0.05); however, in 9 months and 12 months, the liver B ultrasonic classification in the treatment group was better than that in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively). For the four serum indexes of liver fibrosis, there was no significant differences between the two groups in 3 months, however, in 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months, there was a significant improvement in the treatment group compared with the control group. There were no obviously adverse effects in two groups. CONCLUSION: Silibinin combined with Ruangan pills has a better curative effect in the treatment of schistosomiasis liver fibrosis.

[Temporal and spatial pattern of phytoplankton community and its biodiversity indices in the Danjiangkou Reservoir].

Temporal and spatial patterns of phytoplankton community and their associated influencing factors using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were analyzed in the Danjiangkou Reservoir, China. Water quality of the reservoir was also assessed using phytoplankton cell density and biodiversity indices. Results showed that Bacillariophyta and Cyanophyta accounted for 51.08% and 18.39% of all the species, respectively. There was great seasonal variation in phytoplankton assemblage composition, cell density and biodiversity index. In summer, Cyanophyta was dominant and composed of 42.24% of the phytoplankton composition, whereas Bacillariophyta was dominant in spring, summer and winter, and accounted for 77.13%, 61.29% and 50.91% of all species, respectively. The phytoplankton density reached the maximum of 1.76 x 10(6) cells/L in summer, while the lowest value was 2.32 x 10(5) cells/L in autumn. Seasonal variability was the same for the indices of Shannon-Wiener, Simpson and Pielou, and they were 2.08, 0.77, 0.65 in autumn, and decreased to 0.85, 0.32, 0.28 in winter, respectively. Though the spatial variability was not significant in indices H', D, D(m) and J, the difference was significant between the Dan and the Han Reservoirs in terms of phytoplankton composition. The dominant phytoplankton was Bacillariophyta in Dan Reservoir and Cyanophyta in Han Reservoir. The results also indicated that conductivity was the main environmental factor influencing variation in phytoplankton composition except in autumn. The reservoir could be classified as oligotrophication by cell density and the middle level between beta-mesosaprobic zone and oligosaprobic zone using biodiversity indices. The research demonstrated the potential to use phytoplankton community and its biodiversity indices to monitor water quality in the Danjingkou Reservoir.