An enhanced expression of ABC 1 transporter in circulating leukocytes as a potential molecular marker for the diagnostics of glaucoma

Summary. Objective: Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease. Since vascular dysregulation is supposed to be a risk factor for the development of glaucomatous damage, the preventive treatment might slow down the disease development. The efficiency of the therapeutic treatment depends particularly on a drug efflux pump regulated by ABC transporters. ABC 1 is also known to participate on the vascular regulation. This study was focused on the comparative analysis of ABC 1 expression levels in circulating leukocytes of non-glaucomatous individuals and glaucoma patients.Results and conclusions: The expression rates of ABC 1 were significantly increased in leukocytes of glaucoma patients compared to non-glaucomatous individuals. The expression level of ABC 1 was, furthermore, highly homogeneous in glaucoma patients. In contrast, these expression levels in non-glaucomatous individuals were extremely heterogeneous. This transporter acts as the energy-dependent unidirectional transmembrane cholesterol efflux pump and can export a wide range of hydrophobic drugs. Additionally an observed enhanced ABC 1 expression in circulating leukocytes may be implicated in the vascular regulation mechanisms of glaucoma. We proposed the enhanced expression of ABC 1 in leukocytes as a potential marker for the diagnostics and ex vivo molecular monitoring of glaucoma.     

Increased megakaryopoiesis in cultures of CD34-enriched cord blood cells maintained at 39 degrees C

Based on previous evidence suggesting positive effects of fever on in vivo hematopoiesis, we tested the effect of hyperthermia on megakaryopoiesis (MK) in ex vivo cultures of CD34-enriched cord blood (CB) cells. The cells were cultured at 37 degrees C or 39 degrees C for 14 days in cytokine conditions optimized for megakaryocyte development and analyzed periodically. Compared to 37 degrees C, the cultures maintained at 39 degrees C produced significantly more (up to 10-fold) total cells, myeloid and MK progenitors, and total MKs, and showed accelerated and enhanced MK maturation with increased yields of proplatelets and platelets. This observation could facilitate clinical applications requiring ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic cells.     

石蒜属植物的药用和观赏利用前景

石蒜属植物是重要的药用植物,又是一类优良观赏植物,既可用于园林配置,也可用作切花生产或盆栽。综述了石蒜属植物的药用和观赏价值并对其应用前景进行了探讨,为全面开发利用我国这一丰富的野生资源提供了一些理论基础。     

石蒜愈伤组织的诱导及其继代培养

以石蒜鳞茎为外植体,研究了不同激素组合、鳞茎不同部位和不同生长时期等因素对石蒜愈伤组织诱导的影响及其继代培养。结果表明：MS＋2,4-D 1 mg·L~（-1）＋6-BA 1 mg·L~（-1）激素组合能较好的诱导出石蒜愈伤组织,诱导率达61.13%;外植体的选择是石蒜愈伤组织诱导的关键因素,内层鳞茎诱导愈伤组织的效果最好;在一个生长周期中,9、10月的鳞茎作为外植体诱导愈伤组织最佳;MS＋2,4-D 0.5 mg·L~（-1）＋KT 0.5 mg·L~（-1）是愈伤组织较好的继代培养基,继代周期为24～27 d。     

长筒石蒜鳞茎中的生物碱类成分(英文)

从长筒石蒜鳞茎的乙醇提取物中分离得到7个生物碱类化合物,经理化方法和波谱分析,分别鉴定为galanthamine(1),lycoramlne(2),6β-hydroxycrinamine(3a),6α-hydroxycrinamine(3b),(-)-amarbellisine(4),tazettine(5),macowine(6).其中化合物3a～6为首次从该植物中分离得到.     

菜粉蝶对两种迁地保护的兰科植物传粉和繁殖成功的作用

迁地保护是防止物种灭绝的有效措施。为了解在新栖息地兰科植物与昆虫之间的关系, 从而为兰科植物的保护提供借鉴, 作者对迁地栽培于深圳市全国兰科植物种质资源保护中心的本地种血叶兰(Ludisia discolor)和外来种银带虾脊兰(Calanthe argenteo-striata)的传粉系统和繁殖策略进行了观察和研究。血叶兰和银带虾脊兰都具有白色小花组成的花序, 且花有距。在开放栽培条件下, 菜粉蝶(Pieris rapae)是这两种兰科植物唯一有效的传粉者。菜粉蝶携带血叶兰和银带虾脊兰花粉块的部位分别是降落时平衡身体的左侧足部和取食花蜜的喙。两种兰科植物传粉效率较高, 花粉移走与沉降的比值分别为1.14 : 1和0.74 : 1。血叶兰的结实率在2007和2008两年间无显著差异, 且均高于银带虾脊兰。究其原因, 一方面是由于它为传粉者提供报酬; 另一方面是因为血叶兰的花期与菜粉蝶的盛发期相吻合, 有利于充分利用传粉者; 而银带虾脊兰的花期滞后于菜粉蝶的盛发期, 传粉者缺失使得部分花未能授粉。血叶兰和银带虾脊兰都是高度自交亲和的物种, 但不存在无融合生殖和自动自花授粉的现象; 自交和异交的繁殖成功率无显著差异。这两种兰科植物可能存在由传粉者导致的自交现象。血叶兰和银带虾脊兰在迁地栽培到兰科中心后生长良好, 每年花期都有自然结果的现象, 植株周围有新生幼苗的建立, 种群有逐渐扩大的趋势, 显示出迁地保护的可行性。可以预测若干年后, 这两个种在兰科中心具有建立稳定种群的可能性。     

石蒜组织培养和植株再生的研究

以石蒜的双鳞片为外植体,MS为培养基,对石蒜组织培养适宜条件进行筛选,并对石蒜的植株再生进行了研究。结果表明：MS＋3mg/L6-BA＋0.3mg/L NAA是不定芽增殖的最佳激素组合,诱导率可达73.99%;石蒜生长旺盛期的11月是芽诱导率最高的时期,同时,MS＋0.5mg/L6-BA＋0.8mg/L NAA是较好的生根培养基,生根率可达95.00%;幼苗移栽至蛭石30%营养土中移栽成活率最高达91.67%。     

Determination of antifungal activities in serum samples from mice treated with different antifungal drugs allows detection of an active metabolite of itraconazole

To establish an in vitro method of predicting in vivo efficacy of antifungal drugs against Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus, the antifungal activities of fluconazole, itraconazole, and amphotericin B were determined in mouse serum. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of each drug was measured using mouse serum as a diluent. For C. albicans, the assay endpoint of azoles was defined as inhibition of mycelial extension (mMIC) and for A. fumigatus, as no growth (MIC). The MICs of amphotericin B for both pathogens were defined as the MIC at which no mycelial growth occurred. Serum MIC or mMIC determinations were then used to estimate the concentration of the drugs in serum of mice treated with antifungal drugs by multiplying the antifungal titer of the serum samples by the serum (m)MIC. The serum drug concentrations were also determined by HPLC. The serum concentrations estimated microbiologically showed good agreement with those determined by HPLC, except for itraconazole. Analysis of the serum samples from itraconazole-treated mice by a sensitive bioautography revealed the presence of additional spots, not seen in control samples of itraconazole. The bioautography assay demonstrated that the additional material detected in serum from mice treated with itraconazole was an active metabolite of itraconazole. The data showed that the apparent reduction in the itraconazole serum concentration as determined by HPLC was the result of the formation of an active metabolite, and that the use of a microbiological method to measure serum concentrations of drugs can provide a method for prediction of in vivo efficacy of antifungal drugs.     

大叶黑桫椤孢子超低温保存

大叶黑桫椤孢子在液氮中长期保存的结果表明：（1）大叶黑桫椤孢子可以保存于液氮中;（2）液氮保存后的孢子萌发率比未用液氮保存的普遍下降,保存90d的用室温慢速化冻的孢子萌发率最高（65.3％）,相对保持率最高可达79.3％;（3）采用室温（22～25℃）慢速化冻的效果优于37℃温水浴快速化冻的。据此认为,液氮超低温长期保存大叶黑桫椤孢子是可行的。     

石蒜属12种植物叶片比较解剖学研究

对石蒜属（Lycoris Herb．）12种植物叶片的比较解剖学研究表明：（1）石蒜属植物叶片横切面的端部、中部及基部的轮廓基本呈浅“W”或“V”字型,有些种的表皮细胞上具有明显的尖刺状乳突;（2）石蒜属植物均为异面叶,叶肉组织有一定的栅栏组织和海绵组织分化,但二者的厚度、叶肉中所占比例及栅栏组织的细胞层数在种间有一定的差异;（3）海绵组织发达、具有大而明显的薄壁细胞或细胞裂溶后形成空腔（分泌腔或气腔）;（4）叶片中维管束数目大多为奇数,叶脉维管束鞘由薄壁细胞组成;（5）石蒜属植物横切面上叶缘的形状分为圆弧形和楔形两种类型。石蒜属植物叶的解剖结构具有许多相似特征;同时又具有一定的种间差异,可为石蒜属槽物的种间关系和开发利用提供有价值的信息。