黄连抗氧化活性研究

利用DPPH、FRAP和ABTS三种抗氧化活性分析方法对黄连植物不同部位的有机溶剂提取部分进行抗氧化评价,将所测定结果与Trolox进行比较,发现黄连植物不同部位抗氧化活性不同。其中,黄连须根的抗氧化活性最高;同一部位中,乙酸乙酯和甲醇提取物抗氧化活性一般要高于石油醚提取物。在三种方法中,黄连不同部位的提取物清除自由基的能力均随浓度增大而增大;三种方法之间有很好的相关性,以FRAP法与DPPH法相关性最好(r=0.9261,P<0.01)。     

The association between leukocyte telomere length and cigarette smoking, dietary and physical variables, and risk of prostate cancer

Telomeres consist of nucleotide repeats and a protein complex at chromosome ends that are essential to maintaining chromosomal integrity. Several studies have suggested that subjects with shorter telomeres are at increased risk of bladder and lung cancer. In comparison to normal tissues, telomeres are shorter in high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia and prostate cancer. We examined prostate cancer risk associated with relative telomere length as determined by quantitative PCR on prediagnostic buffy coat DNA isolated from 612 advanced prostate cancer cases and 1049 age-matched, cancer-free controls from the PLCO Cancer Screening Trial. Telomere length was analyzed as both a continuous and a categorical variable with adjustment for potential confounders. Statistically significant inverse correlations between telomere length, age and smoking status were observed in cases and controls. Telomere length was not associated with prostate cancer risk (at the median, OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.67, 1.08); associations were similar when telomere length was evaluated as a continuous variable or by quartiles. The relationships between telomere length and inflammation-related factors, diet, exercise, body mass index, and other lifestyle variables were explored since many of these have previously been associated with shorter telomeres. Healthy lifestyle factors ( i.e. , lower BMI, more exercise, tobacco abstinence, diets high in fruit and vegetables) tended to be associated with greater telomere length. This study found no statistically significant association between leukocyte telomere length and advanced prostate cancer risk. However, correlations of telomere length with healthy lifestyles were noted, suggesting the role of these factors in telomere biology maintenance and potentially impacting overall health status.     

Spatiotemporal Transmission Dynamics of Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome in China, 2005–2012

BackgroundHemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is a rodent-borne disease caused by many serotypes of hantaviruses. In China, HFRS has been recognized as a severe public health problem with 90% of the total reported cases in the world. This study describes the spatiotemporal dynamics of HFRS cases in China and identifies the regions, time, and populations at highest risk, which could help the planning and implementation of key preventative measures.MethodsData on all reported HFRS cases at the county level from January 2005 to December 2012 were collected from Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Geographic Information System-based spatiotemporal analyses including Local Indicators of Spatial Association and Kulldorff''s space-time scan statistic were performed to detect local high-risk space-time clusters of HFRS in China. In addition, cases from high-risk and low-risk counties were compared to identify significant demographic differences.ResultsA total of 100,868 cases were reported during 2005–2012 in mainland China. There were significant variations in the spatiotemporal dynamics of HFRS. HFRS cases occurred most frequently in June, November, and December. There was a significant positive spatial autocorrelation of HFRS incidence during the study periods, with Moran''s I values ranging from 0.46 to 0.56 (P<0.05). Several distinct HFRS cluster areas were identified, mainly concentrated in northeastern, central, and eastern of China. Compared with cases from low-risk areas, a higher proportion of cases were younger, non-farmer, and floating residents in high-risk counties.ConclusionsThis study identified significant space-time clusters of HFRS in China during 2005–2012 indicating that preventative strategies for HFRS should be particularly focused on the northeastern, central, and eastern of China to achieve the most cost-effective outcomes.     

Development of Silica Gel-Supported Modified Macroporous Chitosan Membranes for Enzyme Immobilization and Their Characterization Analyses

The present work was aimed at developing stability enhanced silica gel-supported macroporous chitosan membrane for immobilization of enzymes. The membrane was surface modified using various cross-linking agents for covalent immobilization of enzyme Bovine serum albumin. The results of FT-IR, UV–vis, and SEM analyses revealed the effect of cross-linking agents and confirmed the formation of modified membranes. The presence of silica gel as a support could provide a large surface area, and therefore, the enzyme could be immobilized only on the surface, and thus minimized the diffusion limitation problem. The resultant enzyme immobilized membranes were also characterized based on their activity retention, immobilization efficiency, and stability aspects. The immobilization process increased the activity of immobilized enzyme even higher than that of total (actual) activity of native enzyme. Thus, the obtained macroporous chitosan membranes in this study could act as a versatile host for various guest molecules.     

大兴安岭植被生物量的ALOS PALSAR估算

利用野外实测调查数据,系统分析了ALOS PALSAR L波段HH(L-HH)极化数据与大兴安岭地区森林各成分参数的关系,并采用简单线性模型、指数模型和加入地理因子模型建立森林生物量的估算模型进行最优反演.结果表明:后向散射系数与树木地上部分总生物量相关性最大,其次是干生物量,L-HH数据可以用来反演正确的树木地上部分总生物量.3种模型中,加入地理因子模型降低了植被生物量估算的误差,精度达0.851,反演结果与实际相符.在41.5°入射角L-HH极化数据下,大兴安岭塔河林业局和阿木尔林业局的森林生物量饱和点在15.4 kg·m-2.     

帽儿山地区森林冠层叶面积指数的地面观测与遥感反演

叶面积指数(leaf area index,LAI)是陆地生态系统最重要的结构参数之一,遥感和基于冠层孔隙率模型的光学仪器观测是快速获取LAI的有效方法,但由于植被叶片的聚集效应,这些方法通常只能获取有效叶面积指数(effective LAI,LAIe).本文以东北林业大学帽儿山实验林场为研究区,利用LAI2000观测森林冠层LAIe,并结合TRAC观测的叶片聚集度系数估算了森林冠层LAI,并通过分析基于Landsat5-TM数据计算的不同植被指数与LAIe之间的关系,建立了该区森林LAI遥感估算模型.结果表明:研究区阔叶林的LAI和LAIe基本相当,而针叶林的LAI比LAIe大27%;减化比值植被指数(reduced simple ratio,RSR)与该区LAIe的相关性最好(R2=0.763,n=23),最适合该区LAI的遥感提取.当海拔<400 m时,LAI随海拔高度的上升而快速增大;当海拔在400～750 m时,LAI随海拔高度的上升缓慢增大;当海拔>750 m时,LAI呈下降趋势.研究区森林冠层LAI与森林地上生物量存在显著的正相关关系.     

Genome-based analysis of virulence genes in a non-biofilm-forming Staphylococcus epidermidis strain (ATCC 12228)

Staphylococcus epidermidis strains are diverse in their pathogenicity; some are invasive and cause serious nosocomial infections, whereas others are non-pathogenic commensal organisms. To analyse the implications of different virulence factors in Staphylococcus epidermidis infections, the complete genome of Staphylococcus epidermidis strain ATCC 12228, a non-biofilm forming, non-infection associated strain used for detection of residual antibiotics in food products, was sequenced. This strain showed low virulence by mouse and rat experimental infections. The genome consists of a single 2499 279 bp chromosome and six plasmids. The chromosomal G + C content is 32.1% and 2419 protein coding sequences (CDS) are predicted, among which 230 are putative novel genes. Compared to the virulence factors in Staphylococcus aureus, aside from delta-haemolysin and beta-haemolysin, other toxin genes were not found. In contrast, the majority of adhesin genes are intact in ATCC 12228. Most strikingly, the ica operon coding for the enzymes synthesizing interbacterial cellular polysaccharide is missing in ATCC 12228 and rearrangements of adjacent genes are shown. No mec genes, IS256, IS257, were found in ATCC 12228. It is suggested that the absence of the ica operon is a genetic marker in commensal Staphylococcus epidermidis strains which are less likely to become invasive.     

Differential susceptibility to staphylococcal superantigen (SsAg)-induced apoptosis of CD4+ T cells from atopic dermatitis patients and healthy subjects: the inhibitory effect of IL-4 on SsAg-induced apoptosis

This study had two aims: 1) to determine whether there are differences between atopic dermatitis (AD) patients and healthy subjects in staphylococcal superantigen (SsAg)-induced CD4(+) T cell activation, cytokine production, chemokine receptor expression, and apoptosis; and 2) to investigate the effect of IL-4 on SsAg-induced apoptosis. By using immunofluorescence and annexin V staining, we analyzed PBMC with or without staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) stimulation in the presence or absence of rIL-4 or anti-IL-4-neutralizing Abs in 15 healthy subjects and 27 AD patients. We found that SEB preferentially induced production of Th1 cytokine in SEB-reactive (TCRVbeta3(+) or Vbeta12(+) or Vbeta17(+)) CD4(+) T cells from healthy subjects and Th2 cytokine in those from AD patients. SEB induced up-regulation of CXCR3(+) cells in SEB-reactive CD4(+) T cells from healthy subjects and CCR4(+) cells in those from AD patients. SEB-reactive CD4(+) T cells from AD patients were more resistant to SEB-induced apoptosis than those from healthy subjects. There was no significant difference between AD and healthy subjects in SEB-induced activation of CD4(+) T cells. CXCR3(+) CD4(+) T cells were more susceptible to SEB-induced apoptosis than CCR4(+) CD4(+) T cells in healthy subjects. Exogenously added IL-4 inhibited SEB-induced apoptosis of SEB-reactive CD4(+) and CXCR3(+) CD4(+) T cells but not of CCR4(+) CD4(+) T cells in healthy subjects. Inhibition of endogenous IL-4 increased SEB-induced apoptosis of SEB-reactive CD4(+) T cells from AD patients. These results might provide new clues to the mechanism that SsAgs contribute to the persistence and exacerbation of allergic skin inflammation in AD.