Flowering, the floral transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth, is induced by diverse endogenous and exogenous cues, such as photoperiod, temperature, hormones and age. Precise flowering time is critical to plant growth and evolution of species. The numerous renewal molecular and genetic results have revealed five flowering time pathways, including classical photoperiod pathway, vernalization pathway, autonomous pathway, gibberellins (GA) pathway and newly identified age pathway. These pathways take on relatively independent role, and involve extensive crosstalks and feedback loops. This review describes the complicated regulatory network of this floral transition to understand the molecular mechanism of flowering and provide references for further research in more plants.
Arabidopsis ; physiology ; Flowers ; physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Regulatory Networks

The purpose of the present work is to observe cGMP positive cells after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in the gerbil hip-pocampus. Immunofluorescent methods were used in gerbil hippocampal tissue slices. The results showed that after cerebral is-chemia cGMP synthesis in the CAi-a subfields was increased, cGMP positive cells were distributed mainly in CA1 subfield. Mostof cGMP positive cells were astrocytes. The number of small round cGMP positive cells were increased after recirculation follow-ing ischemia in the dentate gyrus. These results indicate that after cerebral ischemia cGMP synthesis was increased in the CA1-asubfield, It is possible that astrocytes play an important role in the regulation of metabolism in the early stage after ischemia-reperfusion.

OBJECTIVE：To observe effect of L-NAME on apoptosis in the gerbil hippocampus after recirculation following ischemia.METHOD：Bilateral occlusion of common carotid arteries and TUNEL stain methods in gerbitil hippocampal tissue slice were used.RESULTS：L-NAME inhibited apoptosis in the CA1 subfield.CONCLUSION:Endogenous NO mediated apoptosis is inhibited by the L-NAME.

Objective To explore the effects of neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampal CA 1 region by the selective nitric oxide synthase(NOS) inhibitor, 7 nitroindazole (7 NI).Methods 72 postnatal 7 day old Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups.(1)Sham operation group:12 rats were cut in their neck centre without ligature in common carotid artery;(2)Obersevertion group(7 NI group):the abdominal cavity of 30 rats were injected intraperitoneally into 7 NI (25 mg/kg) after anoxic ischemic damaged models were made;(3)The control group(the normal saline):30 rats were injected intraperitoneally into the normal saline the same volume after HIBD.The sham operative group was later than the operative one.The rats in the observation group and the control one by killed later,they were cut heads and brains in 48h.and were detected by HE and TUNEL stainning,the numbers of cerebral apoptosis were detected under the lightmicroscope.Results Typal apoptotic cells in the hippocampal CA 1 region in the control group were detected by HE stainning. They showed cell pyknosis,cytoplasm deep stain,nucleus concentration,fragment,karyoplasm unclear,apoptosis corpuscle was formed;in 7 NI group the above apoptosis decresed significantly;There was significant difference between Group 2 and Group 3(TUNEL positive apoptotic cells in Group 2)( P

Objective To investigate the bacteriostatic effect of starch-based alkyl poly glycoside(APG).Methods The nutrient broth dilution method was used to investigate the inhibiting effect of C8-10,C12 and pilot product C12 APG to the E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus.Results Determination of antibacterial fluid absorption was performed after 24 h-reaction.The MIC of C12,pilot product C12 and C8-10 were 0.03125,0.25 and 0.0156 g/ml for the E.coli;and were 0.062 5,0.25 and 0.062 5 g/ml for Staphylococcus aureus.Based on bacterial culture counts,at the APG concentration of MIC or higher than the MIC,the inhibitory rate of bacteria was more than 99%,the bacteriostatic effect was accorded with the absorbance.Conclusion Starch-based APG may have some antibacterial effects.

Glycosyltransferases (GTs) catalyze the transfer of a sugar residue of an activated sugar donor to an acceptor molecule. Many families 1 GTs utilize an uridine diphosphate (UDP) activated sugar as donor in the glycosylation reaction, and most of these belong to a group of GTs referred to as the UGTs. The relationship between the degree of amino acid sequence identity and substrate specificity of the plant UGTs is highly complicated, and the prediction of substrate specificity based on phylogenetic analyses need to be improved by more biochemical characterization. This review summarizes the three dimensional structures of plant UGTs published in the Protein Data Bank (PDB), including the detailed substrate interactions with the sugar and receptor binding pockets and mutational analyses of some critical amino acids. It will be helpful for biochemical characterization the substrate specificity of the individual UGT, and lay the foundation for the enzymatic and genetic manipulation of plant UGTs in the future.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Glycosylation ; Glycosyltransferases ; chemistry ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; chemistry ; Plants ; enzymology ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Substrate Specificity ; Uridine Diphosphate ; chemistry

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasonography on thyroid microcarcinoma ,and to find out its sono-graphic characteristics .Methods Ultrasound performance of 206 thyroid microcarcinoma nodules in 150 patients confirmed by sur-gery and pathology were retrospectively analyzed ,nodules internal echo ,boundary ,the shape ,the blood flow and internal calcifica-tion and calcification size ,distribution and type were observed and compared with 82 benign nodules(diameter ≤1 cm) .Results In terms of solid low echo ,minicalcification ,aspect ratio≥1 ,rich blood flow and neck lymph node enlargement ,thyroid microcarcinoma were significantly higher than that of thyroid benign nodules (P<0 .05) .Ultrasonographic performance of thyroid microcarcinoma often presented as solid low echo ,irregular form ,aspect ratio ≥1 ,internal mostly small calcification ,edge blur and the surrounding small burrs .Color doppler blood flow showed that ,blood supply was rich in patients with strong nodules ,distribution was irregular , smaller nodules blood flow was not rich .Conclusion The two-dimensional and color doppler flow imaging(cdfi) might be has a im-portand value on thyroid microcarcinoma diagnosis .

Objective This study investigates the protective effect of bicyclol on liver function in patients after liver resection.Methods One hundred and twenty patients undergoing liver resection with Pringle's maneuver were randomly divided into groups A,B,and C,and given bicyclol (50 mg),diammonium glycyrrhizinate (150 mg),and silybum marianum (77 mg),respectively.The medication was orally given preoperatively for 5 days and postoperatively for days 3 to 7.The fasting serum ALT,AST,TB,ALP,and PAB levels were determined before operation and on days 1,3,5,and 7 after operation.Results ALT levels in the A group were significantly lower than those in the B and C group on post operative days 1,3,5,and 7 (P＜0.01).On postoperative day 7,the ratio of serum ALT returned to normal was significantly higher than the B and C group ratios (P＜0.05).Conclusion Therefore,oral bicyclol given before and after liver resection can significantly inhibit the rapid increase and promote the normalization of serum ALT levels.

Clinical ophthalmic surgery is a special branch of general surgery,the microsurgery of ophthalmology has properties of high-precision,high-risk and longer learning curve.The ophthalmology department of Tongji University Hospital has explored a set of step-by-step and efficacious postgraduate student education method,including theoretical basis,in vitro stimulation and in vivo practice.The intervention of quality control and incentive mechanism were also included.

Objective To evaluate therapeutic effects of metformin on the expression of serum cytokines,balance of splenic Th17/regulatory T cells (Treg) and expression of splenic AMPK-mTOR in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats,and the mechanism thereof.Methods The rat model of CIA was established by injecting bovine type Ⅱ collagen.Forty rats were randomly divided into five groups:the CIA model group(sterile water by gavage),Met-30 mg/kg group (metformin 30 mg ·kg-1 ·d-1 by gavage),Met100 mg/kg group(metformin 100 mg ·kg-1 ·d-1 by gavage),Met-300 mg/kg group(metformin 300 mg ·kg-1 ·d-1 by gavage) and control group (sterile water by gavage).The hind paw volume was recorded once a week.The serum level of cytokines,tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α,interleukin (IL)-1β,IL-6,and IL-17,were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) 35 days after the initial immunization.The quantity of Th17 and Treg cells were examined by flow cytometry.The expression of AMPK,p-AMPK,mTOR and p-mTOR were examined by western blotting.One-way analysis of variance was used to evaluate the experimental data.Results The values of hind paw volume were decreased on the 35 d of the initial immunization in the Met100 mg/kg [(2.43±0.37) ml,t=2.97,P＜0.05] and Met-300 mg/kg groups [(2.58±0.21) ml,t=2.96,P＜0.05] than those of CIA model group (2.97±0.23) ml.The serum levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6 and IL-17 on the 35-d after the initial immunization were significantly lower in the metformin therapeutic groups [Met-300 mg/kg group TNF-α (104±8) pg/ml,t=42.77,P＜0.05;IL-1β (183±24) pg/ml,t=60.457,P＜0.05;IL-6 (19.3±2.8) pg/ml,t=53.62,P＜0.05;IL-17 (64.5±6.7) pg/ml,t=47.92,P＜0.05] than those of the CIA model group [TNF-α (246±8) pg/ml;IL-1β (1 336±40) pg/ml;IL-6 (87.0±5.1) pg/ml;IL-17 (282.3±6.8) pg/ml].The quantity of Th17 and Treg cells were significantly different in the Met-300 mg/kg group than those of the CIA model group 35 d after the initial immunization [Th17(6.57±0.39) vs (9.89±0.53),t=8.74,P＜0.05;Treg (7.60±0.45) vs (3.94±0.61),t =8.37,P＜0.05].The expression of p-AMPK on the 35 d after the initial immunization in the metformin therapeutic groups was significantly higher than in the CIA model group(P＜0.05),and the expression of p-mTOR was significantly lower (P＜0.05).Conclusion Metformin can significantly inhibit the serum levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6 and IL-17 in CIA model rats,and regulate the balance of Th17/Treg through AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway.