自然博物馆的灵魂与血液

正1753年,全球第一座自然科学类博物馆、英国自然博物馆的前身——不列颠博物馆建成,象征现代意义的自然博物馆诞生;1794年,法国国家自然博物馆成立,在欧洲大陆掀起了探索自然的热潮;1868年,上海自然博物馆的前身——徐家汇博物院成立,拉开了中国近代自然博物馆事业的序幕;1869年,美国国家自然博物馆建立,掀起了美洲自然博物馆发展的热潮;1905年,张謇创办南通博物苑,自此,中     

Energy intake,oxidative stress and antioxidant in mice during lactation

Reproduction is the highest energy demand period for small mammals, during which both energy intake and expenditure are increased to cope with elevated energy requirements of offspring growth and somatic protection. Oxidative stress life history theory proposed that reactive oxygen species(ROS) were produced in direct proportion to metabolic rate, resulting in oxidative stress and damage to macromolecules. In the present study, several markers of oxidative stress and antioxidants activities were examined in brain, liver, kidneys, skeletal muscle and small intestine in non-lactating(Non-Lac) and lactating(Lac) KM mice. Uncoupling protein(ucps) gene expression was examined in brain, liver and muscle. During peak lactation, gross energy intake was 254% higher in Lac mice than in Non-Lac mice. Levels of H2O2 of Lac mice were 17.7% higher in brain(P<0.05), but 21.1%(P<0.01) and 14.5%(P<0.05) lower in liver and small intestine than that of Non-Lac mice. Malonadialdehyde(MDA) levels of Lac mice were significantly higher in brain, but lower in liver, kidneys, muscle and small intestine than that of Non-Lac mice. Activity of glutathione peroxidase(GSH-PX) was significantly decreased in brain and liver in the Lac group compared with that in the Non-Lac group. Total antioxidant capacity(TAOC) activity of Lac mice was significantly higher in muscle, but lower in kidneys than Non-Lac mice. Ucp4 and ucp5 gene expression of brain was 394% and 577% higher in Lac mice than in Non-Lac mice. These findings suggest that KM mice show tissuedependent changes in both oxidative stress and antioxidants. Activities of antioxidants may be regulated physiologically in response to the elevated ROS production in several tissues during peak lactation. Regulations of brain ucp4 and ucp5 gene expression may be involved in the prevention of oxidative damage to the tissue.     

岩藻糖基化人乳低聚糖在新生儿无乳链球菌肺炎治疗中的作用

目的探讨岩藻糖基化人乳低聚糖在新生儿无乳链球菌肺炎中的治疗作用。方法收集本院2015年7月至2017年2月痰培养阳性新生儿无乳链球菌、大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌感染性肺炎病例,分析不同喂养方式、不同病原类别肺炎在住院时间、炎症、并发症等指标差异,探讨岩藻糖基化人乳低聚糖对无乳链球菌感染的独特治疗作用;使用含有不同浓度岩藻糖基化人乳低聚糖的培养基对无乳链球菌进行培养,研究岩藻糖基化人乳低聚糖抑制无乳链球菌的最佳浓度;分别使用岩藻糖基化人乳低聚糖或酸性人乳低聚糖加入培养基中对无乳链球菌、大肠埃希菌、肺炎克雷伯菌进行培养,进一步探讨岩藻糖基化人乳低聚糖对无乳链球菌的独特抑制作用。结果无乳链球菌肺炎患儿,母乳喂养组的住院时间较人工喂养组住院时间减少[(8.35±0.77)d vs(10.91±0.54)d,t=1.557 676,P<0.05)],PCT值较人工喂养组低[(2.38±0.63)ng/mL vs(8.69±2.23)ng/mL,t=1.419 964,P<0.05],白细胞计数较人工喂养组低[(13.28±1.08)×10^9/L vs(16.16±0.98)×10^9/L,t=1.878 447,P<0.05],脑膜炎发生率较人工喂养组低(5%vs 35%,χ^2=5.601 353,P<0.05),呼吸机使用率较人工喂养组低(10.0%vs 36.4%,χ^2=4.005 042,P<0.05);大肠埃希菌肺炎患儿、肺炎克雷伯菌肺炎患儿,母乳喂养组与人工喂养组比较,住院时间稍减少,PCT值、白细胞计数、脑膜炎发生率和呼吸机使用率均有所降低,差异无统计学意义;细菌培养实验发现岩藻糖基化人乳低聚糖在2.5 mg/L浓度的时候可以明显抑制无乳链球菌的生长,对大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌无明显抑制作用,酸性人乳低聚糖对3种细菌均无抑制作用。结论岩藻糖基化人乳低聚糖可以明显抑制无乳链球菌的生长,可能成为未来无乳链球菌感染性肺炎治疗中新的靶点,值得深入研究。     

Estimation of Cellobiohydrolase I Activity by Numerical Differentiation of Dynamic Ultraviolet Spectroscopy

1,4-β-D-glucan cellobiohydrolase I (CBH I),p-nitrophenyl β-D-cellobioside,p-nitrophenol andcellobiose show distinct ultraviolet spectra,allowing the design of an assay to track the dynamic process ofp-nitrophenyl β-D-cellobioside hydrolysis by CBH I.Based on the linear relationship between p-nitrophenolformation in the hydrolysate and its first derivative absorption Curve of AUC340_400_(nm)(area under the curve),a new sensitive assay for the determination of CBH I activity was developed.The dynamic parameters ofcatalysis reaction,such as Vm and k_(cat),can all be derived from this result.The influence of β-glucosidase andendoglucanase in crude enzyme sample on the assay was discussed in detail.This approach is useful foraccurate determination of the activity of CBHs.     

Secretory/releasing proteome-based identification of plasma biomarkers in HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma

For successful therapy, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) must be detected at an early stage. Herein, we used a proteomic approach to analyze the secretory/releasing proteome of HCC tissues to identify plasma biomarkers. Serum-free conditioned media (CM) were collected from primary cultures of cancerous tissues and surrounding noncancerous tissues. Proteomic analysis of the CM proteins permitted the identification of 1365 proteins. The enriched molecular functions and biological processes of the CM proteins, such as hydrolase activity and catabolic processes, were consistent with the liver being the most important metabolic organ. Moreover, 19% of the proteins were characterized as extracellular or membrane-bound. For validation, secretory proteins involved in transforming growth factor-β signaling pathways were validated in plasma samples. Alphafetoprotein (AFP), metalloproteinase (MMP)1, osteopontin (OPN), and pregnancy-specific beta-1-glycoprotein (PSG)9 were significantly increased in HCC patients. The overall performance of MMP1 and OPN in the diagnosis of HCC remained greater than that of AFP. In addition, this study represents the first report of MMP1 as a biomarker with a higher sensitivity and specificity than AFP. Thus, this study provides a valuable resource of the HCC secretome with the potential to investigate serological biomarkers. MMP1 and OPN could be used as novel biomarkers for the early detection of HCC and to improve the sensitivity of biomarkers compared with AFP.     

Comparative systems biology between human and animal models based on next-generation sequencing methods

Animal models provide myriad benefits to both experimental and clinical research. Unfortunately, in many situations, they fall short of expected results or provide contradictory results. In part, this can be the result of traditional molecular biological approaches that are relatively inefficient in elucidating underlying molecular mechanism. To improve the efficacy of animal models, a technological breakthrough is required. The growing availability and application of the high-throughput methods make systematic comparisons between human and animal models easier to perform. In the present study, we introduce the concept of the comparative systems biology, which we define as "comparisons of biological systems in different states or species used to achieve an integrated understanding of life forms with all their characteristic complexity of interactions at multiple levels". Furthermore, we discuss the applications of RNA-seq and ChIP-seq technologies to comparative systems biology between human and animal models and assess the potential applications for this approach in the future studies.     

microRNA及其应用前景

microRNA(miRNA)是近年发现的以序列特异性方式调控基因表达的一个非编码蛋白质的大约包含21～22个核苷酸的小RNA家族。研究表明,miRNA参与多种生物学过程,包括发育、分化、凋亡、脂肪代谢、病毒感染和癌症等。因此,揭示miRNA在细胞中的作用,将会给基因功能和基因治疗的研究带来新的机遇。     

由不同细胞核背景引起的小麦细胞质雄性不育系(CMS)叶绿体蛋白质组的变化(简报)

叶绿体和线粒体是高等植物细胞内2种重要的细胞器。由于细胞质雄性不育(CMS)被认为是一种由线粒体基因编码的性状,因此,近10多年来,国内外研究者对线粒体基因组结构与功能、由线粒体基因编码的与CMS相关蛋白的研究积累了大量的资料。与线粒体相比,叶绿体与CMS关系的研究相对滞后。虽然一些研究者在核不育水稻中,观