The protective effects of MSC‐EXO against pulmonary hypertension through regulating Wnt5a/BMP signalling pathway

The aim of the study was to explore the mechanism of mesenchymal stem cell‐derived exosomes (MSC‐EXO) to protect against experimentally induced pulmonary hypertension (PH). Monocrotaline (MCT)‐induced rat model of PH was successfully established by a single intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg MCT, 3 weeks later the animals were treated with MSC‐EXO via tail vein injection. Post‐operation, our results showed that MSC‐EXO could significantly reduce right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and the right ventricular hypertrophy index, attenuate pulmonary vascular remodelling and lung fibrosis in vivo. In vitro experiment, the hypoxia models of pulmonary artery endothelial cell (PAEC) and pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cell (PASMC) were used. We found that the expression levels of Wnt5a, Wnt11, BMPR2, BMP4 and BMP9 were increased, but β‐catenin, cyclin D1 and TGF‐β1 were decreased in MSC‐EXO group as compared with MCT or hypoxia group in vivo or vitro. However, these increased could be blocked when cells were transfected with Wnt5a siRNA in vitro. Taken together, these results suggested that the mechanism of MSC‐EXO to prevent PH vascular remodelling may be via regulation of Wnt5a/BMP signalling pathway.     

Effect of hyperthermia on growth of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells

Hyperthermic treatment at 43 degrees C suppressed the growth of Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells in vitro. Incubation of EAT cells at 43 degrees C for as little as 1.5 h totally abolished the transplantability of the tumor. At the same time, the rate of cellular glucose uptake, the density of glucose transporter on the cells as well as the extent of thymidine, uridine and leucine incorporation were significantly reduced.     

Repeated streptozotocin injections cause early onset of glomerulosclerosis in mice.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a major cause of end-stage chronic renal failure, is histologically characterized by glomerulosclerosis. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of DN, it is important to establish a stable model of glomerulosclerosis in mice, because genomic manipulation techniques (such as gene destruction or transgene insertion) are well established in rodent species. In this study, we found that repeated administrations of streptozotocin led to early onset of glomerular sclerotic lesions in C57BL/6 mice, accompanied with renal dysfunction. During the natural course of DN, glomerular endothelial cells decreased at 10 weeks after the start of streptozotocin-injections, whereas myofibroblastic mesangial cells became evident. Our results provide an animal tool to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of DN, for example to investigate vascular pathology in diabetic glomerular diseases.     

泥炭藓群落的光谱特征及遥感识别研究

以中位泥炭藓（Sphagnum magellanicum Brid.）为研究对象,分别从实测冠层光谱和遥感传感器模拟光谱层面分析其群落的光谱特征。研究结果显示,中位泥炭藓与北方针叶林光谱差异明显,最佳光谱识别区间为740~1140 nm和1230~1412 nm。在可见光波段上,中位泥炭藓与云杉（Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelmann）和黑松（Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loudon）的绿峰位置有所差异。水竹（Phyllostachys heteroclada Oliver）和中位泥炭藓的光谱识别特征波段集中在可见光-近红外波段,分别为400~550、560~696、1025~1143 nm。中位泥炭藓与北方针叶林以及水竹的特征光谱区间存在细微差异,且与水竹在可见光波段有较好的可分性,因此不同纬度带上中位泥炭藓群落的特征谱宽有所差异。红外波段是中位泥炭藓识别的最佳光谱区间。在多光谱遥感水平上,中位泥炭藓识别效果较好,传感器的识别能力依次为：MSI > ALI > OLI > ASTER。在2个中位泥炭藓群落的光谱特征分析中,导数、对数、包络线去除法的光谱降维能力有所差异,其中包络线去除法效果最好。     

晋西北黄河岸边新发现的旧石器地点

在山西省河曲县河会村附近发现一个旧石器地点,从中发现石制品十多件,其地质时代为中更新世晚期。