Association of low plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentration with documented coronary artery disease in males with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

Plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations were determined in 30 males without diabetes or symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD), and compared to the values in age-matched and weight-matched males (n = 55) with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Patients with NIDDM were further subdivided into those with (n = 30) and without (n =25) CAD. Mean (+/- SEM) plasma triglyceride concentrations were significantly increased (P less than 0.001) over control values (96 +/- 5 mg/dl) in patients with NIDDM, whether with (172 +/- 14 mg/dl) or without documented CAD (164 +/- 25 mg/dl). Plasma cholesterol concentrations were also higher (P less than 0.001) than normal (168 +/- 5 mg/dl) in both groups of patients with NIDDM (201 +/- 11 and 199 +/- 7 mg/dl, respectively, in patients with and without evidence of CAD). Plasma LDL-cholesterol concentrations were also greater (P less than 0.001) than normal (104 +/- 4 mg/dl) in patients with NIDDM, but were again similar in the group of diabetics (120 +/- 9 vs 128 +/- 6 mg/dl). However, plasma HDL-cholesterol concentrations were only reduced below control values in diabetes patients with CAD (30 +/- 1 mg/dl), whereas patients with NIDDM and no subjective evidence of CAD had HDL-cholesterol concentrations (37 +/- 3 mg/dl) which were similar to normal values (38 +/- 2 mg/dl). As a result, the ratio of LDL-cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol was highest in patients with NIDDM and CAD (4.2 +/- 0.3), lowest in the control population (2.8 +/- 0.2), and intermediate in those patients with NIDDM without subjective or objective evidence of CAD (3.6 +/- 0.3).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

桑树叶肉原生质体培养再生植株

近年来,木本植物原生质作诱导再生植株的研究越来越受到国内外学者关注。但在林木树种中,迄今成功的种类仍然不多,在文     

Circulating Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and -9 Enzyme Activities in the Children with Ventricular Septal Defect

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most common form of congenital heart diseases. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases involved in causal cardiac tissue remodeling. We studied the changes of circulating MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in the patients with VSD severity and closure. There were 96 children with perimembranous VSD enrolled in this study. We assigned the patients into three groups according to the ratio of VSD diameter/diameter of aortic root (Ao). They were classified as below: Trivial (VSD/Ao ratio ≤ 0.2), Small (0.2 < VSD/Ao ≤ 0.3) and Median (0.3 < VSD/Ao) group. Plasma MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities were assayed by gelatin zymography.There was a significant higher MMP-2 activity in the VSD (Trivial, Small and Median) groups compared with that in Control group. The plasma MMP-9 activity showed a similar trend as the findings in MMP-2 activity. After one year follow-up, a significant difference in the MMP-9 activity was found between VSD spontaneous closure and non-closure groups. In conclusion, a positive trend between the severity of VSD and activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was found. Our data imply that MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities may play a role in the pathogenesis of VSD.     

Pierce's Disease of Grapevines in Taiwan: Isolation,Cultivation and Pathogenicity of Xylella fastidiosa

Characteristic symptoms of Pierce's disease (PD) in grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) were observed in 2002 in the major grape production fields of central Taiwan. Disease severity in vineyards varied, and all investigated grape cultivars were affected. Diseased tissues were collected from fields for subsequent isolation and characterization of the causal agent of the disease (Xylella fastidiosa). Koch's postulates were fulfilled by artificially inoculating two purified PD bacteria to grape cultivars Kyoho, Honey Red and Golden Muscat. The inoculated plants developed typical leaf‐scorching symptoms, and similar disease severity developed in the three cultivars from which the bacterium was readily re‐isolated, proving that the leaf scorch of grapevines in Taiwan is caused by the fastidious X. fastidiosa. This confirmed PD of grapevines is also the first report from the Asian Continent. Phylogenetic analyses were performed by comparing the 16S rRNA gene and 16S‐23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer region (16S‐23S ITS) of 12 PD strains from Taiwan with the sequences of 13 X. fastidiosa strains from different hosts and different geographical areas. Results showed that the PD strains of Taiwan were closely related to the American X. fastidiosa grape strains but not to the pear strains of Taiwan, suggesting that the X. fastidiosa grape and pear strains of Taiwan may have evolved independently from each other.     

In vitro antimicrobial and anticancer potential of hinokitiol against oral pathogens and oral cancer cell lines

Hinokitiol is a natural component isolated from Chamacyparis taiwanensis. It has anti-microbial activity, and has been used in oral care products. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal microbicidal concentration (MMC) of hinokitiol against MRSA, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Streptococcus mutans, and Candida albicans were determined by the agar and broth dilution method (MIC: 40–110 μM; MMC: 50–130 μM); the paradoxical inhibition phenomenon (PIP) was observed in A. actinomycetemcomitans and S. mutans. The PIP can be described as microbial growth occurring in the presence of both high and low concentrations of a compound, between which microbial growth is inhibited. The PIP was confirmed using a kinetic microplate and inhibition zone methods. The PIP was also observed in MRSA. The low autolysin activity somehow correlated to the PIP positive. The cell diameter was increased in all the pathogens, and the transition was inhibited in C. albicans following hinokitiol treatment. Hinokitiol is also a potential anticancer drug. The 200 μM of hinokitiol has significant antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities against oral pathogens and oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, respectively, and lower cytotoxic effects for normal human oral keratinocytes, indicating that hinokitiol displays a high potential for safe and effective applications in oral health care.     

Inhibition of VEGF-C Modulates Distal Lymphatic Remodeling and Secondary Metastasis

Tumor-associated lymphatics are postulated to provide a transit route for disseminating metastatic cells. This notion is supported by preclinical findings that inhibition of pro-lymphangiogenic signaling during tumor development reduces cell spread to sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). However, it is unclear how lymphatics downstream of SLNs contribute to metastatic spread into distal organs, or if modulating distal lymph transport impacts disease progression. Utilizing murine models of metastasis, longitudinal in vivo imaging of lymph transport, and function blocking antibodies against two VEGF family members, we provide evidence that distal lymphatics undergo disease course-dependent up-regulation of lymph transport coincidental with structural remodeling. Inhibition of VEGF-C activity with antibodies against VEGF-C or NRP2 prevented these disease-associated changes. Furthermore, utilizing a novel model of adjuvant treatment, we demonstrate that antagonism of VEGF-C or NRP2 decreases post SLN metastasis. These data support a potential therapeutic strategy for inhibiting distant metastatic dissemination via targeting tumor-associated lymphatic remodeling.     

Link Clustering Reveals Structural Characteristics and Biological Contexts in Signed Molecular Networks

Many biological networks are signed molecular networks which consist of positive and negative links. To reveal the distinct features between links with different signs, we proposed signed link-clustering coefficients that assess the similarity of inter-action profiles between linked molecules. We found that positive links tended to cluster together, while negative links usually behaved like bridges between positive clusters. Positive links with higher adhesiveness tended to share protein domains, be associated with protein-protein interactions and make intra-connections within protein complexes. Negative links that were more bridge-like tended to make interconnections between protein complexes. Utilizing the proposed measures to group positive links, we observed hierarchical modules that could be well characterized by functional annotations or known protein complexes. Our results imply that the proposed sign-specific measures can help reveal the network structural characteristics and the embedded biological contexts of signed links, as well as the functional organization of signed molecular networks.     

Responses of rice to chronic and acute iron toxicity: genotypic differences and biofortification aspects

Background and aims

Iron (Fe) toxicity is a wide-spread stress in lowland rice production. The aim of this study was to differentiate between responses to acute Fe stress during the vegetative stage and chronic Fe stress throughout the growing period.

Methods

Six rice genotypes were tested in a semi-artificial greenhouse setup, in which acute (almost 1500 mg L^?1 Fe in soil solution during the vegetative stage) and chronic (200 to 300 mg L^?1 Fe throughout the season) Fe toxicity were simulated.

Results

Acute Fe stress induced early development of heavy leaf bronzing, whereas moderate symptoms occurred in the chronic treatment throughout the season. Grain yields were only reduced in the chronic stress treatment (?23 %) due to reductions in spikelet fertility, grain number and grain weight. Symptom formation during the early growth stages did not reflect yield responses in all genotypes. Only one genotype showed increases in grain Fe concentrations (24 % in the acute stress and 44 % in the chronic stress) compared to the control.

Conclusions

Contrasting genotypes responded differently to acute and chronic Fe toxicity, and one genotype showed consistent tolerance and the ability to translocate excess Fe into grains. These traits can be useful in the adaptive breeding of rice for Fe toxic environments.

     

红腹锦鸡血细胞的光镜和扫描电镜观察

为了探讨红腹锦鸡(Chrysolophus pictus)血细胞的形态特征,为生理学研究提供生物学基础资料,利用光镜和扫描电镜观察了红腹锦鸡血细胞的形态特征。结果表明,红腹锦鸡红细胞呈椭圆形或扁圆形,表面光滑,具核;白细胞为球形,体大,淋巴细胞表面有绒毛状突起,嗜中性粒细胞核一般分2~5叶,嗜酸性粒细胞核一般分2叶,嗜碱性粒细胞核分2~3叶,单核细胞表面粗糙不平,核大,呈肾形或圆形;凝血细胞呈球形或不规则形。