The plant steroid hormones brassinosteroids (BRs) play pivotal roles in modulating flower and fruit production. Nitrogen (N) is a key factor affecting rice (Oryza sativa L.) production. We hypothesized that BRs would respond to N application rates at spikelet differentiation (SD) and regulate spikelet degeneration in rice. Three rice cultivars were field‐grown and treated with five N rates at SD. Plant N and BRs contents, antioxidant capacity, and energy status were observed during meiosis in young panicles, and their relationships with spikelet degeneration were evaluated. In all the N treatments, the BRs, adenosine triphosphate, and energy charge levels, activities of the enzymes involved in energy metabolism, including cytochrome C oxidase and succinate dehydrogenase, total antioxidant capacity, and grain yield, were the highest, whereas hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content and vacuolar processing enzymes (VPE) genes expression levels, and spikelet degeneration rate were the lowest when plant N content was 2.6% during meiosis. The rice BRs‐deficient mutants showed substantial reduction in BRs levels, antioxidant capacity, and energy status, but great increase in H2O2 content, VPE genes expression levels, and spikelet degeneration rate than the wild type (WT); moreover, these parameters in WT panicles could be regulated, whereas in BRs‐deficient mutant panicles, they were not distinctly affected by N application. The results indicated that BRs mediate the effects of N rates on spikelet degeneration, and elevated BRs levels in rice panicles effectively inhibit spikelet degeneration when plant N content is 2.6% during meiosis by elevating antioxidant capacity and energy status.

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BackgroundThe objective of the present study was to identify the association between miR-15a-5p and CDKN2B, and their roles in regulating the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).Material/MethodsWe searched the miRNA database online (www.mirdb.org) and used a luciferase reporter assay system to study the regulatory relationship between miR-15a-5p and CDKN2B. We also conducted real-time PCR and Western blot analysis to study the mRNA and protein expression level of CDKN2B among different patient groups (participants with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and normal controls) or cells treated with scramble control, miR-15a-5p mimics, CDKN2B siRNA, and miR-15a-5p inhibitors.ResultsWe found that CDKN2B was a virtual target of miR-15a-5p with potential binding sites in the 3′UTR of CDKN2B (77–83 bp). We also showed that miR-15a-5p could bind to the CDKN2B 3′UTR, resulting in a significant decrease in luciferase activity compared with the scramble control. Furthermore, we found that the cells isolated from AAA participants showed an over-expression of miR-15a-5p compared to the normal controls, while the CDKN2B mRNA and protein expression level of the AAA group were much lower than the normal control group. Additionally, the expression of CDKN2B mRNA and the protein of the cells transfected with miR-15a-5p mimics and CDKN2B siRNA was downregulated, while the cells showed upregulated expression subsequent to transfection with miR-15a-5p inhibitors compared to the scramble control.ConclusionsThe data revealed a negative regulatory role of miR-15a-5p in the apoptosis of smooth muscle cells via targeting CDKN2B, and showed that miR-15a-5p could be a novel therapeutic target of AAA.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a kind of polyphenol compound, called catechin, and is extracted from green tea. EGCG has a wide range of biological activities. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of EGCG on neointimal hyperplasia in a rat model of carotid artery balloon injury and to explore the molecular mechanisms involved. Various experiments were performed to assess the effects of EGCG on thickening of neointima, expression levels of high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) and receptor of advanced glycation end products (RAGE), the inflammatory response, oxidative stress and activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB. Results demonstrated that EGCG decreased the intimal area and the ratio of intimal area/medial area compared with the balloon injury group. The expression levels of HMGB1 and RAGE induced by balloon injury were markedly inhibited by EGCG treatment. Furthermore, the inflammatory response and oxidative stress damage, which have close correlations with HMGB1, were restrained by EGCG. Finally, EGCG treatment markedly inhibited NF-κB activation. The present data provided evidence that EGCG attenuates neointimal hyperplasia in a model of carotid artery balloon injury, which indicated that EGCG may serve as a potential drug for restenosis in clinics.

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BackgroundThere is little data comparing catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) via small saphenous veins vs. systematic thrombolysis on complications and efficacy in acute deep venous thrombosis patients. The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy and safety of CDT via the small saphenous veins with systematic thrombolysis for patients with acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT).Material/MethodsSixty-six patients with acute DVT admitted from June 2012 to December 2013 were divided into 2 groups: 27 patients received systemic thrombolysis (ST group) and 39 patients received CDT via the small saphenous veins (CDT group). The thrombolysis efficiency, limb circumference differences, and complications such as post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) in the 2 groups were recorded.ResultsThe angiograms demonstrated that all or part of the fresh thrombus was dissolved. There was a significant difference regarding thrombolysis efficiency between the CDT group and ST group (71.26% vs. 48.26%, P=0.001). In both groups the postoperative limb circumference changes were higher compared to the preoperative values. The differences between postoperative limb circumferences on postoperative days 7 and 14 were significantly higher in the CDT group than in the ST group (all P<0.05). The incidence of postoperative PTS in the CDT group (17.9%) was significantly lower in comparison to the ST group (51.85%) during the follow-up (P=0.007).ConclusionsCatheter-directed thrombolysis via the small saphenous veins is an effective, safe, and feasible approach for treating acute deep venous thrombosis.