Desirable scaffolds for tissue engineering should be biodegradable carriers to supply suitable microenvironments mimicked the extracellular matrices for desired cellular interactions and to provide supports for the formation of new tissues. In this work, a kind of slightly soluble bioactive ceramic akermanite (AKT) powders were aboratively selected and introduced in the PLGA matrix, a novel l-lactide modified AKT/poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (m-AKT/PLGA) composite scaffold was fabricated via a solvent casting-particulate leaching method improved by solvent self-proliferating process. The effects of m-AKT contents on properties of composite scaffolds and on MC3T3-E1 cellular behaviors in vitro have been primarily investigated. The fabricated scaffolds exhibited three-dimensional porous networks, in which homogenously distributed cavities in size of 300–400 μm were interconnected by some smaller holes in a size of 100–200 μm. Meanwhile, the mechanical structure of scaffolds was reinforced by the introduction of m-AKT. Moreover, alkaline ionic products released by m-AKT could neutralize the acidic degradation products of PLGA, and the apatite-mineralization ability of scaffolds could be largely improved. More valuably, significant promotions on adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 have been observed, which implied the calcium, magnesium and especially silidous ions released sustainably from composite scaffolds could regulate the behaviors of osteogenesis-related cells.

Background Large panicle rice has a large sink capacity, but inferior spikelet filling is poor in this variety of rice due to asynchronous grain filling. The understanding of the factors that cause asynchronous grain filling will help to propose a model for how to regulate the rice inferior spikelets grain filling. Results In this study, two large panicle rice varieties, W1844 and CJ03, with the same sink capacity but with differences in asynchronous grain filling were used. The difference in the grain filling rate between superior and inferior spikelets in W1844 was much smaller than that in CJ03. We found that superior spikelet filling was initiated earlier in W1844 than in CJ03. The source-to-sink translocation rate of sucrose during the grain filling stage was more efficient in W1844 than in CJ03, and the gene expression levels of sucrose transporters (OsSUTs) were higher in W1844 functional leaves than in those of CJ03. In addition, carbon output, the transport ratio, and the contribution rate from the stem and sheath to the panicle were much higher at the early filling stage than at later filling stages in W1844. Conclusion Efficient sugar translocation can satisfy high sink strength, and also the strong sink activity can facilitate the sugar unloading in spikelets. All the above results indicate that an efficient sugar translocation rate at the early grain filling stage can improve sink strength and inferior grain filling initiation. Strategies to limit asynchronous grain filling in rice were also discussed based on our findings.

OBJECTIVES: Percardiac device closure of ventricular septal defects (VSDs) is considered as an alternative to surgical repair in certain patients; however, the safety and validity of this technique in subaortic VSD are unproven. METHODS:A total of 463 patients with subaortic VSD underwent two different operative procedures. The clinical data were collected and a retrospective analysis was performed.RESULTS: A total of 145 (90.06%) cases were successfully occluded in Group A, and 16 (9.94%) patients were converted to open-heart surgery after occlusion procedure failure. A total of 302 patients in Group B underwent open-heart surgery. Multivariable analysis showed that a diameter of <5 mm in doubly committed subarterial VSD was the sole predictor of device closure failure. There were statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) between the two groups in operation time, postoperative mechanical ventilation time, cardiac intensive care unit duration, postoperative hospitalization time and blood transfusion requirement. Patients were followed up with clinical examination, echocardiography (ECG) and transthoracic ECG during the period of 3-36 months (median, 12.6 months) at second week, third month, sixth month, first year, second year and third year after the operation. No acute complications or severe adverse events (death, valve injury, complete atrioventricular block and embolism) occurred either in the early period or during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS:Percardiac device occlusion is a safe, effective and efficient option for treating subaortic VSD in selected patients.

The white-backed planthopper, Sogatella furcifera, is a phloem sap feeder that secretes watery and gelling saliva during feeding. In this study, we identified the major proteins in watery saliva of S. furcifera by shotgun LC-MS/MS analysis combined with transcriptomic analysis. A total of 161 proteins were identified, which were divided into 8 function categories, including enzymes, transporter, calcium ion binding protein, salivary sheath protein, cytoskeleton protein, DNA-, RNA-, and protein-binding or regulating proteins, other non-enzyme proteins and unknown proteins. Gene expression pattern of 11 secretory proteins were analyzed by real time quantitative-PCR. We detected the mucin-like protein, which had a unique expression level in salivary gland, most likely to be a candidate effector involved in regulation of plant defense. This study identified the watery saliva component of S. furcifera and it provided a list of proteins which may play a role in interaction between S. furcifera and rice.