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- Sodergren, Erica, et al.
(author)
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The genome of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.
- 2006
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In: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 1095-9203 .- 0036-8075. ; 314:5801, s. 941-52
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report the sequence and analysis of the 814-megabase genome of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, a model for developmental and systems biology. The sequencing strategy combined whole-genome shotgun and bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) sequences. This use of BAC clones, aided by a pooling strategy, overcame difficulties associated with high heterozygosity of the genome. The genome encodes about 23,300 genes, including many previously thought to be vertebrate innovations or known only outside the deuterostomes. This echinoderm genome provides an evolutionary outgroup for the chordates and yields insights into the evolution of deuterostomes.
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- Ding, Ling, et al.
(author)
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Effects of brominated flame retardants and brominated dioxins on steroidogenesis in H295R human adrenocortical carcinoma cell line
- 2007
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In: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. - : Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC). - 0730-7268 .- 1552-8618. ; 26:4, s. 764-772
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and brominated dioxins are emerging persistent organic pollutants that are ubiquitous in the environment and can be accumulated by wildlife and humans. These chemicals can disturb endocrine function. Recent studies have demonstrated that one of the mechanisms of endocrine disruption by chemicals is modulation of steroidogenic gene expression or enzyme activities. In this study, an in vitro assay based on the H295R human adrenocortical carcinoma cell line, which possesses most key genes or enzymes involved in steroidogenesis, was used to examine the effects of five bromophenols, two polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs 77 and 169), 2,3,7,8-tetrabromodibenzo-p-dioxin, and 2,3,7,8-tetrabromodibenzofuran on the expression of 10 key steroidogenic genes. The H295R cells were exposed to various BFR concentrations for 48 h, and the expression of specific genes - cytochrome P450 (CYP11A, CYP11B2, CYP17, CYP19, and CYP21), 3β- hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3βHSD2), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17βHSD1 and 17βHSD4), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) - was quantitatively measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Cell viability was not affected at the doses tested. Most of the genes were either up- or down-regulated, to some extent, by BFR exposure. Among the genes tested, 3βHSD2 was the most markedly up-regulated, with a range of magnitude from 1.6- to 20-fold. The results demonstrate that bromophenol, bromobiphenyls, and bromodibenzo-p-dioxin/furan are able to modulate steroidogenic gene expression, which may lead to endocrine disruption.
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3. |
- Gao, Hui-Ling, et al.
(author)
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Expression of zinc transporter ZnT7 in mouse superior cervical ganglion.
- 2008
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In: Autonomic neuroscience : basic & clinical. - : Elsevier BV. - 1566-0702. ; 140:1-2, s. 59-65
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons contain a considerable amount of zinc ions, but little is known about the zinc homeostasis in the SCG. It is known that zinc transporter 7 (ZnT7, Slc30a7), a member of the Slc30 ZnT family, is involved in mobilizing zinc ions from the cytoplasm into the Golgi apparatus. In the present study, we examined the expression and localization of ZnT7 and labile zinc ions in the mouse SCG using immunohistochemistry, Western blot and in vivo zinc selenium autometallography (AMG). Our immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the ZnT7 immunoreactivity in the SCG neurons was predominately present in the perinuclear region of the neurons, suggesting an affiliation to the Golgi apparatus. The Western blot results verified that ZnT7 protein was expressed in the mouse SCGs. The AMG reaction product was shown to have a similar distribution as ZnT7 immunoreactivity. These observations support the notion that ZnT7 may participate in zinc transport, storage, and incorporation of zinc into zinc-binding proteins in the Golgi apparatus of mouse SCG neurons.
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6. |
- Xu, Bing, et al.
(author)
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Clinicopathological significance of caspase-8 and caspase-10 expression in rectal cancer
- 2008
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In: Oncology. - : S. Karger AG. - 0890-9091 .- 0030-2414 .- 1423-0232. ; 74:3-4, s. 229-236
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: To investigate the expression of caspase-8 and -10 in rectal adenoma, adenocarcinoma and the corresponding normal mucosa tissue, and to clarify the relationship between their expression and clinicopathological parameters of rectal cancer. Methods: The expression of caspase-8 and -10 was determined by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry in 36 rectal adenomas, 93 rectal cancers and 93 corresponding normal rectal mucosa samples. Results: Compared with normal mucosa, the mRNA expression of caspase-8 was higher in adenomas (p = 0.003), while that of caspase-10 was lower in adenomas (p = 0.035) and cancers (p = 0.001). Immunohistochemical results showed caspase-8 up-regulation in adenomas (p = 0.014), and caspase-10 down-regulation in adenomas (p = 0.034) and cancers (p < 0.001) compared with normal mucosa samples. Cancers with poor differentiation had lower caspase-10 mRNA and protein levels than those with better differentiation (p = 0.041 and p = 0.046, respectively). The protein expression of caspase-8 and -10 was in accordance with the mRNA expression (p = 0.043 and p = 0.018, respectively). Conclusions: Caspase-8 expression was up-regulated in rectal adenomas. Caspase-10 expression was down-regulated in both rectal adenomas and cancers, and was further related to differentiation. Caspase-8 and -10 may be involved in the pathogenesis of rectal cancer. Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG.
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7. |
- Zhang, Qiang, et al.
(author)
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Multifractal analysis of streamflow records of the East River basin (Pearl River), China
- 2009
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In: Physica A. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-4371 .- 1873-2119. ; 388:6, s. 927-934
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Scaling behaviors of the long daily streamflow series of four hydrological stations (Longchuan (1952-2002), Heyuan (1951-2002), Lingxia (1953-2002) and Boluo (1953-2002)) in the mainstream East River, one of the tributaries of the Pearl River (Zhujiang River) basin, were analyzed using multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MF-DFA). The research results indicated that streamflow series of the East River basin are characterized by anti-persistence. MF-DFA technique showed similar scaling properties in the streamflow series of the East River basin on shorter time scales, indicating universal scaling properties over the East River basin. Different intercept values of the fitted lines Of log-log Curve of F-q(s) versus s implied hydrological regulation of water reservoirs. Based on the numerical results, we suggested that regulation activities by water reservoirs Could not impact the scaling properties of the streamflow series. The regulation activities by water reservoir only influenced the fluctuation magnitude. Therefore, we concluded that the streamflow variations were mainly the results of climate changes, and precipitation variations in particular. Strong dependence of generalized Hurst exponent h(q) on q demonstrated multifractal behavior of streamflow series of the East River basin, showing ‘universal’ multifractal behavior of river runoffs. The results of this study may provide valuable information for prediction and assessment of water resources under impacts of climatic changes and human activities in the East River basin. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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8. |
- Zhang, Qiang, et al.
(author)
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Spatial and temporal variability of precipitation maxima during 1960-2005 in the Yangtze River basin and possible association with large-scale circulation
- 2008
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In: Journal of Hydrology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-1694 .- 1879-2707. ; 353:3-4, s. 215-227
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study investigated spatial and temporal patterns of trends of the precipitation maxima (defined as the annual./seasonal. maximum precipitation) in the Yangtze River basin for 1960-2005 using Mann-Kendall trend test, and explored association of changing patterns of the precipitation maxima with large-scale circulation using NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data. The research results indicate changes of precipitation maxima from relative stable patterns to the significant increasing/decreasing trend in the middle 1970s. With respect to annual variability, the rainy days are decreasing and precipitation intensity is increasing, and significant increasing trend of precipitation intensity was detected in the middle and lower Yangtze River basin. Number of rain days with daily precipitation exceeding 95th and 99th percentiles and related precipitation intensities are in increasing tendency in summer. Large-scale atmospheric circulation analysis indicates decreasing strength of East Asian summer monsoon during 1975-2005 as compared to that during 1961-1974 and increasing geopotential height in the north China, South China Sea and west Pacific regions, all of which combine to negatively impact the northward propagation of the vapor flux. This circulation pattern will be beneficial for the longer stay of the Meiyu front in the Yangtze River basin, leading to more precipitation in the middle and lower Yangtze River basin in summer months. The significant increasing summer precipitation intensity and changing frequency in the rain/no-rain days in the middle and lower Yangtze River basin have potential to result in higher occurrence probability of flood and drought hazards in the region.
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- Zhu, Changlian, 1964, et al.
(author)
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Erythropoietin improved neurologic outcomes in newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
- 2009
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In: Pediatrics. - : American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). - 1098-4275 .- 0031-4005. ; 124:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of erythropoietin in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), by using a randomized, prospective study design. METHODS: A total of 167 term infants with moderate/severe HIE were assigned randomly to receive either erythropoietin (N = 83) or conventional treatment (N = 84). Recombinant human erythropoietin, at either 300 U/kg (N = 52) or 500 U/kg (N = 31), was administered every other day for 2 weeks, starting <48 hours after birth. The primary outcome was death or disability. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed at 18 months of age. RESULTS: Complete outcome data were available for 153 infants. Nine patients dropped out during treatment, and 5 patients were lost to follow-up monitoring. Death or moderate/severe disability occurred for 35 (43.8%) of 80 infants in the control group and 18 (24.6%) of 73 infants in the erythropoietin group (P = .017) at 18 months. The primary outcomes were not different between the 2 erythropoietin doses. Subgroup analyses indicated that erythropoietin improved long-term outcomes only for infants with moderate HIE (P = .001) and not those with severe HIE (P = .227). No negative hematopoietic side effects were observed. CONCLUSION: Repeated, low-dose, recombinant human erythropoietin treatment reduced the risk of disability for infants with moderate HIE, without apparent side effects.
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