Exercise Training Attenuates Hypertension and Cardiac Hypertrophy by Modulating Neurotransmitters and Cytokines in Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus

Aims

Regular exercise as an effective non-pharmacological antihypertensive therapy is beneficial for prevention and control of hypertension, but the central mechanisms are unclear. In this study, we hypothesized that chronic exercise training (ExT) delays the progression of hypertension and attenuates cardiac hypertrophy by up-regulating anti-inflammatory cytokines, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines (PICs) and restoring the neurotransmitters balance in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in young spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In addition, we also investigated the involvement of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 and NAD(P)H oxidase in exercise-induced effects.

Methods and results

Moderate-intensity ExT was administrated to young normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and SHR rats for 16 weeks. SHR rats had a significant increase in mean arterial pressure and cardiac hypertrophy. SHR rats also had higher levels of glutamate, norepinephrine (NE), phosphorylated IKKβ, NF-κB p65 activity, NAD(P)H oxidase subunit gp91^phox, PICs and the monocyte chemokine protein-1 (MCP-1), and lower levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the PVN. These SHR rats also exhibited higher renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), and higher plasma levels of PICs, and lower plasma IL-10. However, ExT ameliorates all these changes in SHR rats.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that there are the imbalances between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters and between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the PVN of SHR rats, which at least partly contributing to sympathoexcitation, hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy; chronic exercise training attenuates hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy by restoring the balances between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters and between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the PVN; NF-κB and oxidative stress in the PVN may be involved in these exercise-induced effects.     

南亚热带磷限制水库中浮游植物群落对氮磷比变化的响应

为了解P限制水体中浮游植物群落对N、P营养盐的响应,通过添加N、P营养盐设置N/P梯度,对广东省流溪河水库中的浮游植物群落进行了研究。结果表明,添加N、P显著促进浮游植物的生长,浮游植物群落受P盐的影响比N盐显著;藻类的种属特异性导致浮游植物群落对氮磷营养盐的响应不一致,浮游植物总丰度与N/P比值不相关,其中隐球藻(Aphanocapsa sp.)、拟柱胞藻(Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii)和假鱼腥藻(Pseudanabaena sp.)等蓝藻适合在高N高P条件下生长,双对栅藻(Scenedesmus bijuga)等绿藻优势种偏好中N高P环境,而曲壳藻(Achnanthes sp.)、小环藻(Cyclotella sp.)等硅藻在低N低P的环境下占据优势;P浓度为0.8～2.0μmol/L时存在诱导浮游植物碱性磷酸酶活性的阈值,当P浓度大于2.0μmol/L时则抑制酶活性; P浓度为2.0μmol/L可能是浮游植物维持生长的最适浓度,浮游植物N/P维持动态平衡;藻细胞N/P、C/P与水体P浓度、N/P呈显著正相关,而藻细胞C/N受N影响更明显(P0.05)。这为热带亚热带水库的水质管理提供了理论参考。     

Periodontal Disease and Risk of Head and Neck Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Background

Many epidemiological studies have found a positive association of periodontal disease (PD) with risk of head and neck cancer (HNC), but the findings are varied or even contradictory. In this work, we performed a meta-analysis to ascertain the relationship between PD and HNC risk.

Methods

We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for relevant observational studies on the association between PD and HNC risk published up to March 23, 2013. Data from the included studies were extracted and analyzed independently by two authors. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2 software.

Results

We obtained seven observational studies involving two cohort and six case-control studies. Random-effects meta-analysis indicated a significant association between PD and HNC risk (odds ratio = 2.63, 95% confidence interval = 1.1.68 - 4.14; p < 0.001), with sensitivity analysis showing that the result was robust. Subgroup analyses based on adjustment for covariates, study design, PD assessment, tumor site, and ethnicity also revealed a significant association.

Conclusions

Based on currently evidence, PD is probably a significant and independent risk factor of HNC.     

Xylaria coprinicola, a new species that antagonizes cultivation of Coprinus comatus in China

The species known in China as the chicken-claw fungus is described as a new species, Xylaria coprinicola. This species is known as an antagonist of cultivation of the edible mushroom Coprinus comatus. Stromata of X. coprinicola are cylindrical, terminate in a sterile apex and arise in fascicles from a relative large submerged base; perithecia are immersed and have conspicuously conical ostiolar openings; ascospores are minute. Phylogenetic analyses based on combined partial sequences of rpb2, β-tub and α-act genes showed that X. coprinicola is closely related to those Xylaria species exclusively associated with termite nests.     

阿诺碱受体及其亚型2调控因子研究进展

阿诺碱受体(RyR)是心肌细胞等可兴奋细胞中重要的Ca2+释放受体,在维持细胞的兴奋性和生理功能方面起重要作用.研究发现,RyR存在3个亚型,每个亚型都是由4个单体组成的四聚体,后者构成Ca2+释放通道.RyR的结构中有调控因子的结合位点,一些内源性调控因子可影响RyR的构型和Ca2+释放.结合作者的研究,就RyR的结构功能、RyR2的一些重要内源性调控因子及其调控机制做一简要综述.     

场景的一致性效应及其机制

有关场景一致性效应的研究发现,人们对与背景语义一致的前景物体的命名、分类、搜索和再认等都快于与背景不一致的物体.和与情境一致的物体相比,与情境不一致的物体在中央顶区等部位,会诱发一个幅度更大的负波(N390).旁海马皮层/旁海马位置区(PHC/PPA)和压部后皮层(RSC)是负责场景加工的重要脑区.场景一致性效应的时间进程可能首先由低空间分辨率(LSF)信息激活眶额皮层(OFC)(130 ms左右)、PHC/PPA和RSC,之后LSF信息与高空间分辨率(HSF)信息在颞叶进行整合.在诸多理论模型中,情境促进模型从生理角度对一致性效应作了较充分的解释.     

省藤族十六种植物的花粉形态

对棕榈科（Palmae）省藤亚科（Calamoideae）省藤族（Calameae）省藤属（Calamus）8种4变种、钩叶藤属（Plectocomia）1种、黄藤属（Daemonorops）1种、蛇皮果属（Salacca）2种共4个属16种植物的花粉进行了光镜和扫描电镜观察。省藤属植物的花粉均为两沟型花粉,外壁纹饰为网状、穿孔或小凹穴等类型;黄藤属的黄藤（Daemonorops matgaritae）花粉为近环沟型,外壁纹饰为颗粒状,其萌发孔特征与以前报道不一致。钩叶藤属的钩叶藤（Plectocomia kerrana）花粉为两沟型,外壁纹饰为网状。蛇皮果属的滇西蛇皮果（Salacca secunda）花粉的萌发孔为2沟,外壁纹饰为稀疏的穿孔或者小孔穴,而蛇皮果（S.zal-acca）花粉萌发孔为近环沟型,外壁纹饰为刺状突起,刺之间为密集的小穿孔。研究表明,花粉特征可以反映省藤属内的种间差异,支持褐鳞省藤（Calamus balansaeanus var.castaneolepis）、滇缅省藤（C.erectus var.birmanicus）及长穗省藤（C.palustrisvar.longistachys）作为变种,支持勐腊鞭藤（C.karinensis）作为种的等级地位;另外花粉特征对于探索省藤属和其他属的亲缘关系具有重要的参考价值。     

利用人脐血单个核细胞重建急性肝损伤小鼠肝组织的实验研究

利用人脐血单个核细胞重建急性肝损伤小鼠肝组织,探索建立人-小鼠嵌合肝模型方法。15只SCID小鼠,以四氯化碳(CCL4)制备急性肝损伤模型,24h后行2/3肝切除,然后分为三个实验组细胞移植组(7只)、阴性对照组(3只)及空白对照组(5只);将人脐血单个核细胞悬液注入细胞移植组小鼠脾脏内,阴性对照组小鼠脾脏内注入等量磷酸盐缓冲液(PBS),空白对照组不注射细胞悬液和PBS。术后7d、14d及21d取小鼠肝组织观察病理变化、检测人白蛋白(ALB)及细胞角蛋白19(CK19),同时检测小鼠血清及肝组织匀浆中人ALB含量。全部小鼠表现出急性肝损伤组织学特征;细胞移植组小鼠术后7d、14d、21d肝组织内均见大量人ALB及CK19阳性表达细胞,血清及肝组织匀浆可检测出人ALB;阴性对照组小鼠肝组织未见人ALB及CK19阳性表达,血清及肝组织匀浆中未检测出人ALB。人脐血单个核细胞在部分肝切除的急性肝损伤小鼠肝组织内可大量分化为人肝细胞及胆管细胞,在建立模型方面已取得关键突破。