Caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 9 (Card9) is located upstream of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inflammatory pathways. This study investigated the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of pioglitazone in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). SAP was induced by a retrograde infusion of 5.0% sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic duct of Sprague Dawley rats (n=54), which were then treated with pioglitazone. Blood and pancreatic tissues were harvested at 3, 6, and 12 h after SAP induction. Pancreatic pathological damage was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Serum amylase, serum pro-inflammatory cytokines, and pancreatic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of Card9 mRNA and protein in pancreatic tissues was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Pioglitazone had a therapeutic effect in treating rats with SAP by decreasing the level of amylase activity, ameliorating pancreatic histological damage, decreasing serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and tissue MPO activity, and downregulating the expression of NF-κB, p38MAPK, and Card9 mRNAs and proteins (P<0.05). The present study demonstrated that the inhibition of Card9 expression could reduce the severity of SAP. Card9 has a role in the pathogenic mechanism of SAP.

Abstract The Asian gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) is a serious pest of forest and shade trees in many Asian and some European countries. However, there have been few studies of L. dispar genetic information and comprehensive genetic analyses of this species are needed in order to understand its genetic and metabolic sensitivities, such as the molting mechanism during larval development. In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was used to sequence the transcriptome of the Asian subspecies of the gyspy moth, after which a comprehensive analysis of chitin metabolism was undertaken. We generated 37,750,380 high-quality reads and assembled them into contigs. A total of 37,098 unigenes were identified, of which 15,901 were annotated in the NCBI non-redundant protein database and 9,613 were annotated in the Swiss-Prot database. We mapped 4,329 unigenes onto 317 pathways using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Pathway database. Chitin metabolism unigenes were found in the transcriptome and the data indicated that a variety of enzymes was involved in chitin catabolic and biosynthetic pathways.

ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and feasibility of self-retaining bidirectional barbed absorbable suture application in retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy.Materials and MethodsFrom Sep 2011 and Aug 2012, 76 cases of retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy were performed at our hospital. The patients were divided into two groups: self-retaining barbed suture (SRBS) group (n = 36) and non-SRBS group (n = 40). There was no significant difference in age, sex, tumor size and location between the two groups. Clinical data and outcomes were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsAll 76 cases of retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy were successfully performed, without conversion to open surgery or serious intraoperative complications. In the SRBS group, the suture time, warm ischemia time and operation blood loss were significantly shorter than that of non-SRBS group (p < 0.01), and operation time and hospital stay were shorter than that of non-SRBS group (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThe application of self-retaining bidirectional barbed absorbable suture in retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy could shorten suture time and warm ischemia time, with good safety and feasibility, worthy of being used in clinic.

We evaluated the diversity of soil macrofauna communities inhabiting urban green spaces in Yancheng City, an urbanizing city located east of China. In the end of April 2011, the taxonomic richness, abundance and composition of soil macrofauna communities were assessed and compared among five types of green space (poplar forest, rapeseed farm, grassland in park, lawn and nursery garden) and three depth layers in the soil, with taxonomic resolution attained at the order level. Taxonomic richness (orders) and abundance were significantly different among green spaces. Diversity indices (Margalef's taxonomic richness R and Shannon-Weaver diversity index H') were higher in poplar forest, grassland in park and nursery garden than in rapeseed farm and lawn. Taxonomic richness (Chao 2) showed a similar trend. There were significant effects of green space type and soil layer, which showed a significant interaction affecting macrofauna composition. We recommend that urban green spaces can be used for maintaining biodiversity, not only for landscape purposes.

Evaluamos la diversidad de las comunidades de macrofauna del suelo que habitan los espacios verdes urbanos en la ciudad de Yancheng, una ciudad en proceso de urbanización situada al este de China. A fines de abril 2011, la riqueza taxonómica, abundancia y composición de comunidades de macrofauna del suelo fueron evaluadas y comparadas entre cinco tipos de espacio verde (bosque de álamos, granja de colza, pastizal de parque, césped y jardín vivero) y tres capas de profundidad del suelo, con resolución taxonómica a nivel de orden. La riqueza taxonómica (de órdenes) y la abundancia fueron significativamente diferentes entre los espacios verdes. Los indices de diversidad (riqueza taxonómica R de Margalef y diversidad H' de Shannon-Weaver) fueron mayores en el bosque de álamos, pastizal de parque y jardin vivero que en la granja de la colza y el césped. La riqueza taxonómica (Chao 2) mostró una tendencia similar. Hubo efectos significativos del tipo de espacio verde y capa del suelo, los cuales mostraron una interacción significativa afectando la composición de la macrofauna. Recomendamos que los espacios verdes urbanos se puedan utilizar para mantener la biodiversidad, y no solo con propósitos de paisaje.