Iron homeostasis in plants:when transcription affects translocation

Despite the fact that iron is one of the most abundant elements of the earth's crust,iron deficiencies are serious problemsboth in human nutrition [1] and in agriculture [2].Six to eight percent of the world's population is potentially affectedby iron deficiency induced anemia,a leading cause of maternal death in African and Asian countries where people relymostly on plants for their daily intake of iron.Iron can also be a limiting factor in the growth of economically importantcrop plants because of inadequate soil chemistry,and such deficiencies cannot easily be corrected by amending the soil.Improving the plant's ability to absorb iron in adverse conditions and to increase their overall content could offer solutionsto these dramatic problems.Therefore understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating iron uptake and homeostasisin plants has potentially important practical applications both in agriculture and human health [3].

Quantitative Analysis of Retinoic Acid Combining 2-Nitrophenylhydrazine Derivatization with LC-MS/MS

All-trans-retinoic acid(atRA)plays an essential role in organ formation and differentiation,tissue cell proliferation,and apoptosis,and is closely related to the occurrence and development of various diseases.Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS)has become a powerful tool for metabolic biological analysis because of the high sensitivity,specificity and throughput.We have developed a new method for the quantification of atRA by chemical derivatization with 2-nitrophe-nylhydrazine(2-NPH)for the first time,which reduced the interference of detection by changing the ion mass of the molecule.atRA from its endogenous geometric isomers,such as,9-cis-RA and 13-cis-RA,has been baseline resolved within 15 minute under the optimized chromatographic conditions.The method was applied to measure atRA in mouse serum and tissues including liver,kidney,brain,pancreas,and subcutaneous tissue.The method is easy to operate,highly sensitive and well selective,and can be used for accurate and rapid determination of at RA in biological samples.

Cosmetic outcomes of improved microscopic subinguinal varicocelectomy in patients with varicoceles

To the Editor:Varicoceles(VCs)refer to the dilation of the veins of the pampiniform plexus.The primary treatment method for VCs with definite surgical indications is the surgical treatment.With the development of minimally invasive technology,the application of microscopic subinguinal varicocelectomy(MSV)has gradually increased in recent years and has become the standard treatment method for VCs.[1]In the long-term clinical practice of our department,some young people have required surgery for VCs due to physical examination in special industries(e.g.,military physical examination).They have wanted the incision to be esthetic,seamless,and concealed.With the expectation of cosmesis,we have made some improvements in the selection of the surgical incision.Using the Scar Cosmesis Assessment and Rating(SCAR)scale,[2]we comprehensively evaluated the cosmetic effects of patients undergoing improved MSV(IMSV)and MSV in this study.

Chowing down:diet considerations in rodent models of metabolic disease

Diet plays a substantial role in the etiology, progression, and treatment of chronic disease and is best considered as a multifacetedset of modifiable input variables with pleiotropic effects on a variety of biological pathways spanning multiple organ systems. Thisbrief review discusses key issues related to the design and conduct of diet interventions in rodent models of metabolic disease andtheir implications for interpreting experiments. We also make specific recommendations to improve rodent diet studies to help betterunderstand the role of diet on metabolic physiology and thereby improve our understanding of metabolic disease.