Quercetin relieved diabetic neuropathic pain by inhibiting upregulated P2X4 receptor in dorsal root ganglia

The upregulation of nociceptive ion channels expressed in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) contributes to the development and retaining of diabetic pain symptoms. The flavonoid quercetin (3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) is a component extracted from various fruits and vegetables and exerts anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticarcinogenic, antiulcer, and antihypertensive effects. However, the exact mechanism underlying quercetin's analgesic action remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of quercetin on diabetic neuropathic pain related to the P2X₄ receptor in the DRG of type 2 diabetic rat model. Our data showed that both mechanical withdrawal threshold and thermal withdrawal latency in diabetic rats treated with quercetin were higher compared with those in untreated diabetic rats. The expression levels of P2X₄ messenger RNA and protein in the DRG of diabetic rats were increased compared with the control rats, while quercetin treatment significantly inhibited such enhanced P2X₄ expression in diabetic rats. The satellite glial cells (SGCs) enwrap the neuronal soma in the DRG. Quercetin treatment also lowered the elevated coexpression of P2X₄ and glial fibrillary acidic protein (a marker of SGCs) and decreased the upregulation of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) in the DRG of diabetic rats. Quercetin significantly reduced the P2X₄ agonist adenosine triphosphate-activated currents in HEK293 cells transfected with P2X₄ receptors. Thus, our data demonstrate that quercetin may decrease the upregulation of the P2X₄ receptor in DRG SGCs, and consequently inhibit P2X₄ receptor-mediated p38MAPK activation to relieve the mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia in diabetic rats.     

南京紫金山风景区紫堇属观赏植物调查及开发应用前景

通过对南京紫金山紫堇属野生观赏植物资源现状的调查,结合相关资料,从观赏特性、生态习性、园林应用等方面探讨了紫金山紫堇属植物的应用方向和前景,以期对紫堇属野生观赏植物资源的保护、开发、利用提供参考。     

呼吸道合胞病毒B亚型分离株的G蛋白基因分析

对一株长春地区B亚型分离株(CC169)的G蛋白基因进行了 序列分析,结果表明：我国呼吸道合胞病毒(RSV)分离株CC169同RSV B亚型原型株CH18537的 核苷酸同源性为94%,核苷酸的有义突变率达65%。由核苷酸推导出氨基酸序列的同源性为894%,氨基酸的变异全部发生在胞外区,并主要集中在一个高度保守区的两端,胞内区和跨 膜区保守不变。氨基酸的变异导致了分离株既有糖基化位点的改变,又有蛋白长度的变异。 此外还初步探讨了我国RSV B 亚型分离株CC169的G蛋白基因同原型株之间的变异与疫苗研制 中的意义。     

Human rhinovirus C infection is associated with asthma in children determined by xTAG respiratory viral panel FAST

<正>Dear Editor,Cumulative evidence supports the role of early-life viral infections,especially respiratory syncytial virus(RSV)and human rhinovirus(HRV),as major antecedents of childhood asthma(Lemanske,2002;Jackson et al.,2008).In this study,the x TAG respiratory viral panel FAST(RVP FAST)assay,a multiplex polymerase chain reaction(PCR)-based method(Arens et al.,2010;BaladaLlasat et al.,2011;Gharabaghi et al.,2011;Selvaraju,2012),was used to investigate the association of infec-     

江苏省珍稀濒危保护植物资源及其园林应用前景

珍稀濒危保护植物是人类重要的植物资源之一,江苏地处暖温带和亚热带的过渡地带,自然条件优越,植物种类多样,蕴含着丰富的珍稀濒危保护植物。文章调查整理出78种江苏省珍稀濒危保护植物,隶属40科65属,其中本省自然分布的有21种,从其他省份引种栽培的有57种。为了能促进江苏省珍稀濒危保护植物在园林绿化中的应用,分别从江苏省珍稀濒危保护植物的概况、观赏价值、园林应用现状以及在园林中的应用前景等方面进行论述,以期为绿化工作者提供参考。     

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Water-Soluble Polysaccharides from the Fruit of Acanthopanaxbrachypus: Physicochemical,Structural and Functional Properties

The ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) parameters of total water-soluble polysaccharides (TABPs) from Acanthopanaxbrachypus fruit were optimized by Box-Behnken design (BBD) and response surface methodology (RSM). Physicochemical, structural, and functional properties of TABPs were investigated by chemical analysis, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), water-holding capacity (WHC), oil-holding capacity (OHC), emulsion capacity (EC), emulsion stability (ES), as well as DPPH^. and ABTS^.+scavenging assays. The results showed that the maximal UAE-yield of TABPs was 3.81±0.18 % under the optimal conditions (ultrasonic power 325 W, extraction temperature 47 °C, extraction time 22 min). TABPs was rich in some beneficial element (Mg, K, Fe, Zn and Na) but little in harmful elements (Hg, Cd, As and Pb), and displayed rough surface with flake-like features and large dents, contained 93.89±0.08 % of total carbohydrate with more different monosaccharides including glucose, galactose, rhamnose, arabinose, mannose, xylose, and uronic acid in a molar ratio of 8.83 : 7.90 : 4.74 : 4.55 : 2.80 : 2.39 : 1.00, respectively. TABPs exhibited broad weight distribution (11.2–133.5 kDa), excellent thermal stability (>280 °C), WHC (0.61±0.08 g water/g sample) and OHC (4.53±0.12 g oil/g sample), as well as higher EC (43.75±1.23 %) and ES (38.32±1.50 %). Furthermore, TABPs also displayed remarkable scavenging activities on DPPH^. and ABTS^.+ in vitro. These findings provide a scientific basis for the applications of TABPs in functional additives for food, medicine, and cosmetics.     

植物苯丙烷代谢及其对重金属胁迫的响应研究进展

苯丙烷代谢途径是植物中最重要的次生代谢途径之一,在植物抵抗重金属胁迫中直接或间接发挥了抗氧化作用,并能够提高植物对重金属离子的吸收与胁迫耐性。本文就苯丙烷代谢途径核心反应与关键酶系进行了总结,同时分析了木质素、类黄酮及原花青素等关键代谢产物的生物合成过程及相关机制,并以此为基础探讨了苯丙烷代谢途径关键产物响应重金属胁迫的相关机制。此外,结合当前研究现状,就苯丙烷代谢参与植物防御重金属胁迫的相关研究提出展望,以期为重金属污染环境的植物修复提供理论依据。     

2010-2019年北京地区腹泻患儿中人腺病毒41型Fiber基因分子特征和进化分析

人腺病毒41型(Human adenovirus 41,HAdV-41)是引起儿童腹泻的重要病原之一.为了解北京地区腹泻儿童中HAdV-41 Fiber基因的分子变异和遗传进化特征,选取2010-2019年首都儿科研究所附属儿童医院门诊腹泻患儿HAdV-41阳性的粪便标本,扩增Fiber全基因,使用多种生物信息学软件进行系统发生、遗传进化、种群演变和选择压力等分析.结果显示HAdV-41本地毒株存在1644碱基(547氨基酸)和1689碱基(562氨基酸)两种长度的Fiber基因,截短的15个氨基酸位于Fiber蛋白纤维轴区.Mann-Whitney U秩和检验提示检测到感染短Fiber基因的HAdV-41的患儿年龄更小(P=0.036).同源性分析结果显示Fiber基因的核苷酸和氨基酸序列同源性均大于97％,主要分为四个进化分支(Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ),其中Ⅰ和Ⅲ是主要的流行分支,分支Ⅰ主要在国内流行,而分支Ⅲ全球均有流行.HAdV-41共祖起源可追溯到1856年,平均进化速率每年为6.81×105碱基替换/位点,10年间理论有效种群一直比较平稳呈缓慢下降趋势.压力选择分析表明,一个正向和三个负向选择位点均位于Fiber蛋白的纤维轴区.上述结果表明2010-2019年间不同进化分支的HAdV-41在北京地区流行,进化速率稳定.Fiber蛋白轴区存在两种不同类型的氨基酸缺失.     

Application of Human Adenovirus Genotyping by Phylogenetic Analysis in an Outbreak to Identify Nosocomial Infection

Nosocomial infections are common in pediatric patients and can be fatal in infants and immunocompromised patients. In September 2018, a high positive rate of human adenovirus HAdV was occurred among hospitalized children in the Children's Hospital Affiliated to the Capital Institute of Paediatrics in Beijing. To investigate whether this outbreak of HAdV was related to nosocomial infections or the result of community infections, we collected respiratory specimens from patients with acute respiratory infections in a respiratory ward during June to December 2018, and screened for respiratory viruses. Among 1,840 cases included, 95(5.2%, 95/1840) were positive for HAdV and 81 were genotyped based on phylogenetic analysis, including seven as HAdV-1(8.6%), 30 HAdV-3(37.0%), two HAdV-6(2.5%), and 42 HAdV-7(51.9%). More HAdV-positive samples were collected in August(4.7%, 12/255), September(15.0%, 41/274) and October(6.9%, 17/247), with a peak in September 2018. By combining the results of HAdV phylogenetic analysis with clinical data of patients, there were 77 cases(4.2%, 77/1840; 81.1%, 77/95) excluded from nosocomial infections, eight cases representing possible infections transmitted by visitors or attending parents, three cases without sequences that might have been due to infection transmitted by roommates positive for HAdV, one case of a roommate without an HAdV sequence, and six cases that shared highly homologous sequences with those of their roommates, for which nosocomial infections might be considered. In conclusion, genotyping of HAdVs based on phylogenetic analysis combined with clinical information provides a powerful method to distinguish nosocomial infections from community acquired infection, especially when tracing the origins of nosocomial infections.