MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous RNAs and are widely regarded as one of the most important regulators of gene expression in both plants and animals. To define the roles of miRNAs in fetal lung development, we profiled the miRNA expression pattern during lung development with a miRNA microarray. We identified 21 miRNAs that showed significant changes in expression during lung development....

R ecurrent oral and genital aphthous ulcerations are the hallmarks of Behçet’s disease. Up to now the various clinical manifestations in Behçet’s disease have been treated with limited success. Recently, clinical observations have reported dramatic responses on clinical signs and symptoms in patients treated with tumour necrosis factor a (TNFa) blocking drugs, including severe mucocutaneous, ga...

We examined the localization of the Pir protein family (Pir1 to Pir4), which is covalently linked to the cell wall in an unknown manner. In contrast to the other Pir proteins, a fusion of Pir1p and monomeric red fluorescent protein distributed in clusters in pir1Delta cells throughout the period of cultivation, indicating that Pir1p is localized in bud scars. Further microscopic analysis reveal...

Abstract Background Taro leaf blight, caused by a severely destructive oomycete fungus Phytophthora colocasiae , is responsible for threatening yield loss worldwide. The pathogen has the ability to germinate and spread rapidly other plants during favorable conditions resulting in acute decline even death, causing 100% crop loss. Farmers usually rely on highly toxic systemic fungicides control d...

The present study investigated the expressional regulation of PpDAM5 and PpDAM6, two of the six peach (Prunus persica) dormancy-associated MADS-box genes, in relation to lateral bud endodormancy. PpDAM5 and PpDAM6 were originally identified as homologues of Arabidopsis SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE/AGAMOUS-LIKE 24 identified in the EVERGROWING locus of peach. Furthermore, PpDAM5 and PpDAM6 have recent...

Phytochrome B (phyB) enables plants to modify shoot branching or tillering in response to varying light intensities and ratios of red and far-red light caused by shading and neighbor proximity. Tillering is inhibited in sorghum genotypes that lack phytochrome B (58M, phyB-1) until after floral initiation. The growth of tiller buds in the first leaf axil of wild-type (100M, PHYB) and phyB-1 sorg...

abstract carcinoid tumors are well differentiated neuroendocrine tumors with secretory components. these tumors are uncommon but the most common primary tumors of the distal small intestine. we present a rare terminal ileum carcinoid tumor presenting with a small bowel obstruction. a 65 years old man presented with intermittent, gen-eralized, dull and colicky abdominal pain accompanied with int...

In patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the addition of long-acting beta(2)-agonists (LABA) to glucocorticosteroids (GCS) results in better control than increasing the dose of GCS alone. In smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts, one apparent underlying mechanism involves the ability of LABAs to activate the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The present study investigates th...