朱顶红新品种DUS测试数量性状筛选与分级

利用70个朱顶红品种对12个数量性状进行了筛选及分级研究,并对5个数量性状的测量部位进行了研究。结果表明:所有性状均满足DUS测试要求,性状2由于区分能力弱不适于作为DUS测试性状。12个数量性状可进行3~9个连续分布的分级。花茎从下往上逐渐变细,但不同品种变细程度略有差异,在测量花茎中部的最大宽度时要求严格测量花茎的1/2处;不同茎上各数量性状测量值略有差异,除花茎长度和花梗长度外的性状差异不显著;同一花茎不同花间数量性状差异较小;同品种的花外花被片长度、宽度不存在显著差异;种球大小对数量性状有显著影响。     

Reduced hnRNPA3 increases C9orf72 repeat RNA levels and dipeptide‐repeat protein deposition

Intronic hexanucleotide (G₄C₂) repeat expansions in C9orf72 are genetically associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The repeat RNA accumulates within RNA foci but is also translated into disease characterizing dipeptide repeat proteins (DPR). Repeat‐dependent toxicity may affect nuclear import. hnRNPA3 is a heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein, which specifically binds to the G₄C₂ repeat RNA. We now report that a reduction of nuclear hnRNPA3 leads to an increase of the repeat RNA as well as DPR production and deposition in primary neurons and a novel tissue culture model that reproduces features of the C9orf72 pathology. In fibroblasts derived from patients carrying extended C9orf72 repeats, nuclear RNA foci accumulated upon reduction of hnRNPA3. Neurons in the hippocampus of C9orf72 patients are frequently devoid of hnRNPA3. Reduced nuclear hnRNPA3 in the hippocampus of patients with extended C9orf72 repeats correlates with increased DPR deposition. Thus, reduced hnRNPA3 expression in C9orf72 cases leads to increased levels of the repeat RNA as well as enhanced production and deposition of DPR proteins and RNA foci.     

BI-RADS 3级对乳腺病灶患者的诊断结果及影响因素分析

目的:回顾性分析超声BI-RADS 3级对乳腺病灶患者的诊断结果及影响因素。方法:选择2014年8月至2017年8月上海交通大学医学院附属第九人民医院和复旦大学附属华山医院北院收治的168例乳腺病灶患者,回顾性分析其影像学资料及病理分析结果。分析BI-RADS 3级对乳腺病灶的阴性诊断率,采用Kim分级对BI-RADS 3级结果进行重新分级,分析影响BI-RADS分级及重新分级的主要因素。结果:168例BI-RADS 3级乳腺病灶中,159例为良性病变,9例为恶性。168例BI-RADS 3级乳腺病灶的阳性预测值为5.4%(9/168),阴性预测值为94.6%(159/168)。病灶数目、年龄、医师年资、病灶大小对BI-RADS 3级良恶性乳腺病灶判断无明显影响,而BI-RADS 3级恶性乳腺病灶较良性病灶更易触诊(P 0.05)。重新分级发现,124例仍为BI-RADS 3级,44例上升至BI-RADS 4级,重新分级恶性病灶的检出率为100%(9/9),假阳性率为20.8%(35/168)。病灶多发、年龄≥40岁更可能评估为BI-RADS 4级(P0.05),医师年资、病灶大小、病灶触及情况对重新分级无明显影响(P0.05)。结论:BI-RADS 3级对乳腺良性病灶有较高的阴性诊断率,重新分级可提高乳腺恶性病灶的检出率,但会造成较高的假阳性率,影响BI-RADS分级的主要因素为病灶可否扪及,影响重新分级的主要因素为患者年龄及乳腺病灶是否多发。     

miR-155对人椎间盘退变髓核细胞凋亡的作用及机制研究

目的:探讨mi R-155对人椎间盘退变髓核细胞凋亡的影响及其作用机制。方法:首先构建慢病毒表达载体,在293T细胞中获得重组慢病毒,然后感染椎间盘退变髓核细胞得到稳定过表达细胞系,同时设置空载体和空白细胞组对照。用荧光显微镜观察慢病毒载体的标签蛋白GFP的表达,分别提取三组细胞总RNA,采用RT-q PCR方法检测mi R-155的表达;通过流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡,Western-Blot检测细胞中凋亡相关蛋白FADD、Caspase-3、Bcl-2及Bax的表达,JC-1试剂盒检测细胞线粒体膜电位的变化情况。结果:在荧光显微镜下,经慢病毒感染的过表达细胞系和空载体细胞系均出现绿色荧光,而空白细胞组未见绿色荧光;RT-qPCR结果显示构建的稳定过表达细胞系(GV369-miR-155-NP)中mi R-155的表达水平较高,且与空载体细胞系及空白细胞对照组均呈显著性差异(P0.05);与空载体组(GV369-NP)及空白细胞对照组相比,过表达组(GV369-miR-155-NP)细胞凋亡率显著降低(P0.05),FADD、Caspase-3、Bax的表达水平均明显下降,而Bcl-2表达水平显著增加(P0.05)。结论:mi R-155可能通过靶向结合Caspase-3和FADD阻止FasL-Fas途径或通过线粒体途径抑制人椎间盘退变髓核细胞凋亡。     

Melatonin protects vertebral endplate chondrocytes against apoptosis and calcification via the Sirt1‐autophagy pathway

Melatonin is reportedly associated with intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Endplate cartilage is vitally important to intervertebral discs in physiological and pathological conditions. However, the effects and mechanism of melatonin on endplate chondrocytes (EPCs) are still unclear. Herein, we studied the effects of melatonin on EPC apoptosis and calcification and elucidated the underlying mechanism. Our study revealed that melatonin treatment decreases the incidence of apoptosis and inhibits EPC calcification in a dose‐dependent manner. We also found that melatonin upregulates Sirt1 expression and activity and promotes autophagy in EPCs. Autophagy inhibition by 3‐methyladenine reversed the protective effect of melatonin on apoptosis and calcification, while the Sirt1 inhibitor EX‐527 suppressed melatonin‐induced autophagy and the protective effects of melatonin against apoptosis and calcification, indicating that the beneficial effects of melatonin in EPCs are mediated through the Sirt1‐autophagy pathway. Furthermore, melatonin may ameliorate IDD in vivo in rats. Collectively, this study revealed that melatonin reduces EPC apoptosis and calcification and that the underlying mechanism may be related to Sirt1‐autophagy pathway regulation, which may help us better understand the association between melatonin and IDD.     

Late‐onset retinal degeneration pathology due to mutations in CTRP5 is mediated through HTRA1

Late‐onset retinal degeneration (L‐ORD) is an autosomal dominant macular degeneration characterized by the formation of sub‐retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) deposits and neuroretinal atrophy. L‐ORD results from mutations in the C1q‐tumor necrosis factor‐5 protein (CTRP5), encoded by the CTRP5/C1QTNF5 gene. To understand the mechanism underlying L‐ORD pathology, we used a human cDNA library yeast two‐hybrid screen to identify interacting partners of CTRP5. Additionally, we analyzed the Bruch's membrane/choroid (BM‐Ch) from wild‐type (Wt), heterozygous S163R Ctrp5 mutation knock‐in (Ctrp5^S163R/wt), and homozygous knock‐in (Ctrp5^S163R/S163R) mice using mass spectrometry. Both approaches showed an association between CTRP5 and HTRA1 via its C‐terminal PDZ‐binding motif, stimulation of the HTRA1 protease activity by CTRP5, and CTRP5 serving as an HTRA1 substrate. The S163R‐CTRP5 protein also binds to HTRA1 but is resistant to HTRA1‐mediated cleavage. Immunohistochemistry and proteomic analysis showed significant accumulation of CTRP5 and HTRA1 in BM‐Ch of Ctrp5^S163R/S163R and Ctrp5^S163R/wt mice compared with Wt. Additional extracellular matrix (ECM) components that are HTRA1 substrates also accumulated in these mice. These results implicate HTRA1 and its interaction with CTRP5 in L‐ORD pathology.     

The role of CXC chemokine ligand 4/CXC chemokine receptor 3-B in breast cancer progression

Chemokines and their receptors participate in the development of cancers by enhancing tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis and penetration of tumor immune cells. It remains unclear whether CXC chemokine ligand 4 (CXCL4)/CXC chemokine receptor 3-B (CXCR3-B) can be used as an independent molecular marker for establishing prognosis for breast cancer patients. We evaluated CXCL4 and CXCR3-B expression in 114 breast cancer tissues and 30 matched noncancerous tissues using immunohistochemistry and western blot, and determined the correlation between their expression and clinicopathologic findings. We observed that breast cancer tissues express CXCL4 strongly and CXCR3-B weakly compared to noncancerous tissues. Strong CXCL4 expression was detected in 94.7% and weak CXCR3-B expression was detected in 78.9% of the tissues. Therefore, CXCL4/CXCR3-B might play a crucial role in breast cancer progression. We found no significant correlation between CXCL4 and age, tumor stage, tumor grade or TNM stage. CXCR3-B was associated significantly with tumor grade. Moreover, the Chi-square test of association showed that the expression of CXCL4/CXCR3-B might be an independent prognostic marker for breast cancer. Therefore, we suggest that CXCR3-B is an indicator of poor prognosis and may also be a chemotherapeutic target.     

Protective effects of cynaroside on oxidative stress in retinal pigment epithelial cells

Cynaroside is a flavonoid compound proved to possess antioxidant activity, but its protective effect on age‐related macular degeneration still remains unclear. In this study, the protective effects of cynaroside on oxidative stress and apoptosis in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) were investigated. Results showed that cynaroside effectively attenuated the decrease of cell activity induced by H₂O₂. The total reactive oxygen species can be remitted by decreasing malondialdehyde level, as well as increasing glutathione level, and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. In addition, Western blot analysis indicated that cynaroside protected ARPE‐19 cells from apoptosis through downregulation of caspase‐3 protein activation which was controlled by the upstream proteins Bcl‐2 and Bax. It was finally proved that cynaroside could enhance the antioxidant and antiapoptotic ability in ARPE‐19 cells by promoting the expression of p‐Akt.     

江西庐山国家级自然保护区珍稀濒危植物优先保护定量研究

为制定江西庐山国家级自然保护区珍稀濒危植物的保护策略,采用濒危系数、遗传系数及物种价值系数等评价指标对58种珍稀植物的濒危程度和优先保护顺序进行评估。结果表明,自然保护区珍稀植物的综合评价值(VS)为0.153～0.742,濒危等级为安全的11种,占该区珍稀保护植物总数的19%;稀有的28种(48%);渐危的18种(31%);濒危的1种(2%)。优先保护顺序为Ⅰ级的8种,占该区珍稀保护植物总数的14%,急需保护;Ⅱ级的22种(38%),需要保护;Ⅲ级的23种(40%),可以一般保护;IV级的5种(8%),较为安全。生境破坏和人为干扰是该区珍稀植物保护面临的主要威胁。     

Expression of adiponectin in choroidal tissue and inhibition of laser induced choroidal neovascularization by adiponectin

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of adiponectin (APN) in a mouse model of laser induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV). We have shown by immunohistochemistry that the expression of APN, adiponectin receptor 1, adiponectin receptor 2 and T cadherin gradually increased from day 1 to day 7 post-laser in laser treated mice compared to controls. Recombinant APN (rAPN) was injected intraperitoneally (i.p., 25 microg/mouse) or intravitreally (2 microg/eye) in lasered mice. Another set of lasered mice received APN peptide via i.p. (75 microg/mouse) or intravitreal (30 microg/eye) route. Control mice received a similar treatment with PBS, control protein or control peptide after laser treatment. We found that in the i.p. and intravitreal injection of rAPN resulted in 78% and 68% inhibition respectively in the size of CNV complex compared to control mice. Similar results were observed when APN peptide was injected intravitreally or i.p. Treatment with rAPN or the peptide resulted in decreased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor. Thus, APN inhibited choroidal angiogenesis and may have therapeutic implications in the treatment of wet age related macular degeneration.