Highlights d RNAPII RPB1-K1268 ubiquitination is essential for transcription recovery and DNA repair d Sequential ubiquitination of RNAPII and UVSSA coordinates the recruitment of TFIIH d Strand-specific ChIPseq enables mapping of RNAPII and reveals genome-wide repair kinetics d RNAPII ubiquitination protects against neurodegeneration phenotype in Cockayne syndrome

Purpose. To investigate the prevalence and some related factors about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in medical students. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out from February 2014 to Jun 2014 in Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China. All participants were asked to completed self-administered questionnaires. Results. Seven hundred and sixty-seven medical students (23.26 ± 2.88 years, 25.6% males) completed the survey. The prevalence of IBS was 33.3%, with a high prevalence in women (36.1%). Among the IBS patients, 112 cases were IBS-M (43.9%) and 77.6% had moderately severe IBS. There were no statistical differences between control group and IBS patients in anxiety and depression scores (P > 0.05). The total score of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) was significantly higher for medical students with IBS and 35.5% of IBS patients had severe sleep disorder; the scores of child trauma questionnaire (CTQ) and student-life stress inventory (SLSI) were also higher in IBS patients. Sex and sleep disorder were independently associated with IBS (OR, 1.914, 95%CI, 1.281–2.860; OR, 1.143, 95%CI, 1.074–1.216). Conclusion. Our study has many valuable findings and they may provide valuable suggestions for the necessary intervention and treatment measures towards medical students.

Pseudomonas fluorescens HP72, which suppresses the brown patch disease on bentgrass, produces several secondary metabolites, 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (2,4-DAPG), HCN, siderophore, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). In this study, IAA biosynthesis in strain HP72 was investigated. After several repeated subcultures, the spontaneous IAA low-producing mutant HP72LI was isolated. The IAA low production of the strain HP72LI was due to the low tryptophan side chain oxidase (TSO) activity. Colonization of strain HP72 on the bentgrass root induced root growth reduction, while strain HP72LI did not induce such growth reduction. The colonization ability of strain HP72 on the bentgrass root is higher than that of strain HP72LI. However, as for biocontrol ability, a significant difference in both strains was not detected. IAA production by strain HP72 may play a role in the construction of short root systems and take advantage of root colonization, but does not contribute to the biocontrol properties of P. fluorescens HP72.

Our previous studies revealed that the srrX and srrA genes carried on the large linear plasmid pSLA2-L constitute a ␥-butyrolactone-receptor system in Streptomyces rochei. Extensive transcriptional analysis has now showed that the Streptomyces antibiotic regulatory protein gene srrY, which is also carried on pSLA2-L, is a target of the receptor/repressor SrrA and plays a central role in lankacidin and lankamycin production. The srrY gene was expressed in a growth-dependent manner, slightly preceding antibiotic production. The expression of srrY was undetectable in the srrX mutant but was restored in the srrX srrA double mutant. In addition, SrrA was bound specifically to the promoter region of srrY, and this binding was prevented by the addition of the S. rochei ␥-butyrolactone fraction, while the W119A mutant receptor SrrA was kept bound even in the presence of S. rochei ␥-butyrolactone. Furthermore, the introduction of an intact srrY gene under the control of a foreign promoter into the srrX or srrA(W119A) mutant restored antibiotic production. All of these results confirmed the signaling pathway from srrX through srrA to srrY, leading to lankacidin and lankamycin production.

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effect of mesenchymal stem cells in corneal neovascularization and wound healing, and to compare the effectiveness of two possible application routes, subconjunctival injection and amniotic membrane transplantation. Chemical injury was induced by application of sodium hydroxide to the rats' corneas. After 7 days, the animals were divided into three groups. Different treatment methods were used for each group as follows: i) Group 1, injection of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) under the conjunctiva; ii) group 2, transplantation of amniotic membranes, previously seeded with BMSCs; and iii) group 3, the untreated control group. The eyes were examined using a slit lamp on a weekly basis. After 4 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and corneas were removed for further examination. Corneal flat mounts were made following ink perfusion for improved vessel visualization, image capturing and quantitative evaluation. enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to detect the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9). Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used for detection of VEGF-A, MMP-9, Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and TLR4 gene expression levels. Cryosections were used for histological examination and immunostaining. Statistical analysis (Welch's one-way analysis of variance) demonstrated a significant difference between the groups [P≤0.05, confidence interval (CI) 95%]. The level of injury in group 1 was significantly different from groups 2 and 3. Measurement of the vessel area and VEGF gene expression levels had a similar difference among the groups (P≤0.05, CI 95%), however the differences for TLR2 and TLR4 were not statistically significant. BMSCs were previously transduced with the green fluorescent protein gene by lentivirus to track the movement of the cells following transplantation. The transplanted cells enhanced corneal wound healing by trophic factor production and immune-regulatory effect, rather than by direct transdifferentiation into corneal cells. The results of the current study demonstrated that BMSCs enhance corneal wound healing and decrease the area of neovascularization. Furthermore, the comparison of two application routes indicated that single subconjunctival injection appeared more effective than transplantation with amniotic membrane.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited retinal disorders characterized by progressive loss of photoreceptors and eventually leads to retina degeneration and atrophy. Until now, the exact pathogenesis and etiology of this disease has not been clear, and many approaches for RP therapies have been carried out in animals and in clinical trials. In recent years, stem cell transplantation-based attempts made some progress, especially the transplantation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). This review will provide an overview of stem cell-based treatment of RP and its main problems, to provide evidence for the safety and feasibility for further clinical treatment.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited retinal disorders characterized by the progressive photoreceptors and pigment epithelial cells dysfunction. It is the most common retinal degeneration, responsible for loss of vision of most people worldwide. Until now its exact pathogenesis and etiology are not clear. So far there is no approved therapy. New approaches for RP therapy include cell transplantation, gene therapy, cytokine therapy, nutrition therapy, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Such therapies for retinal degenerative diseases are limited in their efficacy. This paper reviews the relevant documents, especially recent researches, and reviews advances in the treatment of RP.

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