Prolonged liver-specific transgene expression by a non-primate lentiviral vector

Liver-directed gene therapy has the potential for treatment of numerous inherited diseases affecting metabolic functions. The aim of this study was to evaluate gene expression in hepatocytes using feline immunodeficiency virus-based lentiviral vectors, which may be potentially safer than those based on human immunodeficiency virus. In vitro studies revealed that gene expression was stable for up to 24 days post-transduction and integration into the host cell genome was suggested by Alu PCR and Southern blot analyses. Systemic in vivo administration of viral particles by the hydrodynamics method resulted in high levels of gene expression exclusively in the liver for over 7 months whereas injection of plasmid DNA by the same method led to transient expression levels. Our studies suggest that feline immunodeficiency-based lentiviral vectors specifically transduce liver cells and may be used as a novel vehicle of gene delivery for treatment of metabolic disease.     

Identification and quantification of components in extracts of Uncaria tomentosa by HPLC-ES/MS

The two main classes of secondary metabolites, alkaloids and quinovic acid glycosides, of Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC. (Rubiaceae), a Peruvian plant commonly known as ‘uña de gato’, have been analysed. Separation of the alkaloidal fraction was achieved using a solid phase extraction method based on cationic exchange, and an analytical method employing HPLC‐ES/MS has been developed. Quantitative data for commercial wild bark, cultivated bark and leaves are reported. The analysis of quinovic acid glycosides was performed directly on the crude extract using both a fast analytical method based on ?ow injection ES/MS, and a more complete analytical technique using HPLC‐MS. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nonviral gene transfer to surface skin of mid-gestational murine embryos by intraamniotic injection and subsequent electroporation

The surface epithelium of mid-gestational murine embryos is thought to be an attractive target for gene therapy in vivo, due to its visibility and accessibility from the external surface of the maternal uterus. Almost all studies of in utero gene transfer have adopted viral vectors for infection of fetal epithelium, and depended on intraamniotic introduction and simple incubation of vectors, leading to only infection of the surface layer (periderm) of fetal skin. Here we report a simple and convenient method of gene transfer of plasmid DNA into the deeper portion of surface skin of murine mid-gestational fetus. One to two microlitres of a solution containing a lacZ expression plasmid (0.5-1 microg) and trypan blue (0.05%) were placed onto the surface of a fetus (E 14.5) near the eye by a micropipette attached to a mouthpiece. This fetus was immediately electroporated by placing it between tweezer-type electrodes attached to a square-pulse generator. At 1 and 4 days after gene transfer, fetuses were subjected to histochemical staining for lacZ activity in the presence of X-Gal, a substrate for lacZ. Focal reactions were observed in the skin epidermal layers including periderm and basal layer 1 day after DNA introduction. However, lacZ-positive cells were limited to a skin surface layer, the stratum corneum, in the samples obtained 4 days after gene transfer. Similar observation was also made in the transgenic fetuses (carrying a lacZ gene placed immediately downstream of the loxP-flanked sequence) injected with Cre expression vector. These findings suggest rapid movement of fetal epidermal cells toward the surface during late developmental stages. This local gene transfer approach appears to be effective as a method for skin-targeted gene transfer, enabling study of the role of genes of interest and tracing of cell lineage during fetal skin development.     

Direct removal in the mouse of a floxed neo gene from a three-loxP conditional knockout allele by two novel approaches

The presence in an intron of the ploxP-neo-loxP cassette often results in severe interference with gene expression. Consequently, many investigators selectively remove the ploxP-neo-loxP cassette by transient expression of Cre in ES cells. Although effective, the added manipulation of the ES cells may reduce the likelihood that a clone will be able to transmit via the germline. Therefore, we developed two novel approaches that remove the ploxP-neo-loxP by Cre-mediated recombination in mouse. First, the ploxP-neo-loxP-containing mice were crossed with EIIa-Cre transgenic mice. Second, a Cre-expression plasmid was injected into pronuclei of fertilized eggs bearing the ploxP-neo-loxP allele. Both approaches produced mosaic mice with partial and complete excision. These mosaic mice were then mated, and the neo-less conditional knockout allele was found in the offspring after screening only a few litters. These procedures provide options for removing neo directly in the mouse in addition to the commonly used approach that deletes neo in ES cells.     

Analysis of micromolar concentrations of glucose by an interference free flow injection based biosensor

A fast, sensitive, interference-free, single enzyme single reagent glucose biosensor, operated in flow injection analysis (FIA) mode, was developed. The method used involved formation of colored complex of titanium sulfate reagent with the peroxide generated by glucose oxidase immobilized in a packed bed reactor. The color developed was detected spectrophotometrically in a flow cuvette. The system could measure down to 0.5 mg glucose l^–1 and the response was reproducible and linear in the range 1 mg l^–1 to 100 mg l^–1. The analysis time for a 500 l sample was 35 s and was free of interference from a number of substances tested. Analysis results using an off-line batch kit were observed to be in agreement with the developed system for determination of glucose in blood plasma samples.     

Highly sensitive chemiluminescence determination of tenoxicam using a cerium(IV)–sodium hyposulphite system in micellar medium

A simple, rapid and precise flow‐injection–chemiluminescence (FI–CL) method is presented for the determination of tenoxicam in pharmaceutical preparations and biological samples. The method is based on the weak chemiluminescence signal arising from the reaction of cerium(IV) in a nitric acid medium with sodium hyposulphite being significantly increased by tenoxicam in the presence of sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate. Several experimental parameters affecting the CL reaction were examined and optimized systematically. Under the optimum conditions, the CL intensity was proportional to the concentration of tenoxicam in the range 7.0 × 10^–11–5.0 × 10^–8 g/mL. The detection limit was 2.3 × 10^–11 g/mL tenoxicam and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 2.1% for 1.0 × 10^–9 g/mL tenoxicam solution (n = 11). The proposed method was applied to the determination of tenoxicam in pharmaceutical preparations, serum and human urine, with satisfactory results. The possible mechanism of the chemiluminescence reaction is also briefly discussed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

前列地尔联合川芎嗪治疗早期糖尿病肾病的疗效观察

目的:观察前列地尔(凯时)联合川芎嗪注射液(川青)治疗糖尿病肾病的临床疗效,探讨其降低尿蛋白,减轻肾损害的机制.方法:收集早期2型糖尿病患者120例,随机分成川芎嗪组(40例)、前列地尔组(40例)和联合治疗组(40例).全部病例进行临床观察2周,分别比较三组血肌酐(Cr)、尿素氮(BUN)、24 h尿蛋白定量治疗前后的变化.结果:治疗2周后,联合治疗组降低24 h尿蛋白定量的作用优于川芎嗪组和前列地尔组差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).前列地尔组和川芎嗪组比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论:静脉应用前列地尔联合川芎嗪注射液能够降低糖尿病肾病患者尿蛋白,延缓糖尿病肾病的进展,值得临床推广.     

Tail State‐Assisted Charge Injection and Recombination at the Electron‐Collecting Interface of P3HT:PCBM Bulk‐Heterojunction Polymer Solar Cells

The systematic insertion of thin films of P3HT and PCBM at the electron‐ and hole‐collecting interfaces, respectively, in bulk‐heterojunction polymer solar cells results in different extents of reduction in device characteristics, with the insertion of P3HT at the electron‐collecting interface being less disruptive to the output currents compared to the insertion of PCBM at the hole‐collecting interface. This asymmetry is attributed to differences in the tail state‐assisted charge injection and recombination at the active layer‐electrode interfaces. P3HT exhibits a higher density of tail states compared to PCBM; holes in these tail states can thus easily recombine with electrons at the electron‐collection interface during device operation. This process is subsequently compensated by the injection of holes from the cathode into these tail states, which collectively enables net current flow through the polymer solar cell. The study presented herein thus provides a plausible explanation for why preferential segregation of P3HT to the cathode interface is inconsequential to device characteristics in P3HT:PCBM bulk‐heterojunction solar cells.     

电感耦合等离子质谱法(ICP-MS)法测定茵栀黄注射液中有害元素铅、砷、镉、汞、铜的含量

建立了电感耦合等离子体质谱法(ICP-MS)测定茵栀黄注射液中Pb、As、Cd、Hg、Cu 5种元素的方法。样品经微波消解后,直接用ICP-MS同时测定上述5种元素,结果5种元素的检出限分别在5～1250 ng/L之间;线性良好,线性相关系数均为r≥0.999;精密度RSD3.5%;回收率在95.7%～107.5%之间。方法操作简便、分析速度快、灵敏度高,各项分析性能指标均达到要求,适用于茵栀黄注射液中有害元素的测定。     

Aluminum overload increases oxidative stress in four functional brain areas of neonatal rats

Background

Higher aluminum (Al) content in infant formula and its effects on neonatal brain development are a cause for concern. This study aimed to evaluate the distribution and concentration of Al in neonatal rat brain following Al treatment, and oxidative stress in brain tissues induced by Al overload.

Methods

Postnatal day 3 (PND 3) rat pups (n =46) received intraperitoneal injection of aluminum chloride (AlCl₃), at dosages of 0, 7, and 35 mg/kg body wt (control, low Al (LA), and high Al (HA), respectively), over 14 d.

Results

Aluminum concentrations were significantly higher in the hippocampus (751.0 ± 225.8 ng/g v.s. 294.9 ± 180.8 ng/g; p < 0.05), diencephalon (79.6 ± 20.7 ng/g v.s. 20.4 ± 9.6 ng/g; p < 0.05), and cerebellum (144.8 ± 36.2 ng/g v.s. 83.1 ± 15.2 ng/g; p < 0.05) in the HA group compared to the control. The hippocampus, diencephalon, cerebellum, and brain stem of HA animals displayed significantly higher levels of lipid peroxidative products (TBARS) than the same regions in the controls. However, the average superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, and brain stem were lower in the HA group compared to the control. The HA animals demonstrated increased catalase activity in the diencephalon, and increased glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, and brain stem, compared to controls.

Conclusion

Aluminum overload increases oxidative stress (H₂O₂) in the hippocampus, diencephalon, cerebellum, and brain stem in neonatal rats.