New Immunomodulating Polyhydroxypregnane Glycosides from the Roots of Cynanchum otophyllum C.K.Schneid.

Seven new polyhydroxypregnane glycosides, named cynotophyllosides P–V, together with three known analogs were isolated from the roots of Cynanchum otophyllum C.K.Schneid . Their structures were elucidated by a variety of spectroscopic techniques, as well as acid‐catalyzed hydrolysis. All isolates were tested for their immunological activities in vitro against Con A‐ and LPS‐induced proliferation of mice splenocytes. Immunoenhancing (for 1 , 9 ) and immunosuppressive (for 2 ) activities were observed. Furthermore, cynotophylloside R ( 3 ) showed immunomodulatory as it enhanced the proliferation of splenocytes in low concentration and suppressed immune cells in concentration more than 1.0 μg/ml.     

Perivascular adipose tissue‐derived stromal cells contribute to vascular remodeling during aging

Aging is an independent risk factor for vascular diseases. Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT), an active component of the vasculature, contributes to vascular dysfunction during aging. Identification of underlying cell types and their changes during aging may provide meaningful insights regarding the clinical relevance of aging‐related vascular diseases. Here, we take advantage of single‐cell RNA sequence to characterize the resident stromal cells in the PVAT (PVASCs) and identified different clusters between young and aged PVASCs. Bioinformatics analysis revealed decreased endothelial and brown adipogenic differentiation capacities of PVASCs during aging, which contributed to neointimal hyperplasia after perivascular delivery to ligated carotid arteries. Mechanistically, in vitro and in vivo studies both suggested that aging‐induced loss of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ coactivator‐1 α (PGC1α) was a key regulator of decreased brown adipogenic differentiation in senescent PVASCs. We further demonstrated the existence of human PVASCs (hPVASCs) and overexpression of PGC1α improved hPVASC delivery‐induced vascular remodeling. Our finding emphasizes that differentiation capacities of PVASCs alter during aging and loss of PGC1α in aged PVASCs contributes to vascular remodeling via decreased brown adipogenic differentiation.     

MicroRNA-21与平滑肌蛋白22α在哈萨克族食管癌组织中的表达及其临床病理学意义

目的探讨microRNA21与SM22a基因在哈萨克族食管癌发生发展中的作用及临床意义。方法免疫组织化学法检测162例石蜡包埋食管鳞状细胞癌组织及RT-PCR方法检测47例哈萨克族食管癌标本中microRNA21、SM22a表达水平,分析这些基因与临床病理特征的关系。结果SM22a在162例食管鳞癌组织中的阳性表达率(87.0%)显著高于食管正常黏膜组织(36.0%);在47例哈萨克族食管癌组织中,SM22a表达水平较远端无癌组织增高。与远端无癌组织相比,microRNA21在哈萨克族食管癌组织中表达水平增高。MicroRNA21高表达与分化程度、淋巴结转移、临床分期相关,SM22a高表达与临床分期相关、淋巴结转移相关;microRNA21与SM22a的表达呈正相关。结论MicroRNA21、SM22a协同高表达共同参与哈萨克族食管癌的侵袭发展过程。     

Smad2/3a对斑马鱼神经嵴细胞标记基因crestin表达的影响

目的 探讨Smad2/3a对脊椎动物神经嵴细胞发育的影响。方法 通过在斑马鱼胚胎单细胞时期显微注射smad2/3吗啉环修饰的反义寡核苷酸的方法,特异性敲降smad2/3基因的表达,至胚胎发育至6体节,利用整胚原位杂交检测神经嵴细胞特异性标记基因snail1b,sox10,foxd3和crestin的表达情况;通过casmad2 mRNA和smad3a mRNA显微注射的方法过表达smad2和smad3a,同样利用整胚原位杂交检测神经嵴细胞特异性标记基因crestin的表达情况;通过过表达casmad2及smad3a对下调smad2和smad3a的胚胎进行挽救。结果 smad2/3a被敲低后,crestin的表达量显著降低,而snail1b,sox10和foxd3的表达量无明显变化。smad3b被敲低后,crestin,snail1b,sox10和foxd3的表达量均无明显变化;过表达casmad2和smad3a均可导致crestin的表达量增高;过表达casmad2和smad3a可挽救由于smad2/3a敲降所造成crestin的低表达量。结论 Smad2和Smad3a对神经嵴细胞标记基因crestin的表达具有重要作用。     

黄淮平原农业景观鸟类多样性及生境差异

农业景观中的鸟类多样性对生态系统功能和服务的形成与维持具有重要作用。黄淮平原区是我国最重要的农业景观区之一,为探讨区域内农业景观中鸟类多样性特征和不同生境间的差异,在研究区农业景观不同生境中布设样点,调查繁殖期鸟类多样性特征。结果显示:(1)共记录到32科、49属、66种的10044只个体,但优势科属明显;(2)物种丰富度、多样性和均匀度均表现出在沟渠、湖泊生境中较高,农田和村庄生境中相对较低,但物种多度呈现出村庄生境中最高,其次是沟渠和农田生境,湖泊生境中最低;(3)在区系分布上,各生境中均以广布种为主,生态类群上,鸣禽在各生境中均占绝对优势,涉禽和游禽主要分布在沟渠和湖泊生境中,从居留型来看,留鸟是各生境中的主导类群,候鸟、旅鸟和迷鸟比例很低;(4)鸟类群落异质性分析显示,各生境间的相似性总体上较高,表明区域内农业景观中鸟类组成具有较高的重叠性。研究显示农业景观中湖泊和沟渠的存在能有效的提高区域鸟类的丰富度和多样性,而沟渠的存在能有效的提高鸟类个体多度,农田和村庄有助于特定类群多度的增加,因此在未来的区域持续农业景观的构建中一方面要重视自然、半自然非农生境的作用,另一方面也不能忽视不同生物类群对景观异质性响应和对生境特征需求的差异。     

Photoacoustic assessment of hemodynamic changes in foot vessels

Monitoring the blood supply in the lower extremities is critical for individuals who are vulnerable to vascular dysfunction. Current clinical approaches are ineffective in observing hemodynamic changes in peripheral vessels. In this paper, we investigate the potential of photoacoustic tomography (PAT) as an alternative way to in vivo monitor hemodynamic changes in foot vessels. High spatial and temporal resolution maps of hemoglobin in major arteries and veins are shown. Results from twelve human subjects are presented here to visualize vascular perfusion of healthy volunteers in two age groups (young vs aged). Significant differences between the two groups are observed and verify the declining in vascular function with aging, highlighting the potential of PAT as a new tool to evaluate vascular function in the lower extremities.