Mass spectrometry techniques for imaging and detection of metallodrugs

Undoubtedly, metallomic approaches based on mass spectrometry have evolved into essential tools supporting the drug development of novel metal-based anticancer drugs. This article will comment on the state-of-the-art instrumentation and highlight some of the recent analytical advances beyond routine, especially focusing on the latest developments in inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Mass spectrometry-based bioimaging and single-cell methods will be presented, paving the way to exciting investigations of metal-based anticancer drugs in heterogeneous and structurally, as well as functionally complex solid tumor tissues.     

Investigating the effect of cell substrate on cancer cell stiffness by optical tweezers

The mechanical properties of cells are influenced by their microenvironment. Here we report cell stiffness alteration by changing the cell substrate stiffness for isolated cells and cells in contact with other cells. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is used to prepare soft substrates with three different stiffness values (173, 88 and 17 kPa respectively). Breast cancer cells lines, namely HBL-100, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 with different level of aggressiveness are cultured on these substrates and their local elasticity is investigated by vertical indentation of the cell membrane. Our preliminary results show an unforeseen behavior of the MDA-MB-231 cells. When cultured on glass substrate as isolated cells, they are less stiff than the other two types of cells, in agreement with the general statement that more aggressive and metastatic cells are softer. However, when connected to other cells the stiffness of MDA-MB-231 cells becomes similar to the other two cell lines. Moreover, the stiffness of MDA-MB-231 cells cultured on soft PDMS substrates is significantly higher than the stiffness of the other cell types, demonstrating thus the strong influence of the environmental conditions on the mechanical properties of the cells.     

现代农业中的激光技术和激光育种

现代农业中的激光技术是一项新技术。激光农用的开拓领域相当广泛。激光育种在我国始于70年代初,据不完全统计到1986年为止,已育成粮、油、棉、蔬菜、果树、桑、蚕等新品种(系)36个,对农业生产起到了良好作用。为了在现代农业中发挥激光技术的应用优势,从育种的角度来说,应该在加强激光生物学多学科之间合作的前提下,大力开展激光生物工程的研究,这也是激光应用于农业发展的希望所在。     

钙荧光探剂的研究及其在生命科学中的应用

钙荧光探剂测量活细胞胞浆游离Ｃａ２＋浓度的方法在钙研究中已成为一种越来越重要的技术。特别是由于新的一代荧光探剂的合成和激光共聚焦显微镜的发展,使其应用更加广泛。由于国内使用这种技术的实验室逐渐增多,本文将系统介绍钙荧光探剂的发展、测量原理和方法、新的常用钙荧光探剂的比较及其在生命科学中的应用。     

激光照射茶树花药培养及其过氧化物酶同工酶的分析

Ｈｅ－Ｎｅ和ＣＯ２激光对茶树花药培养的药裂率和出愈率的影响,既有促进作用,也有抑制作用。按出愈率和愈伤组织生长状况的序列：Ｈｅ－Ｎｅ：２０Ｊ／ｃｍ＾２〉ＣＫ〉Ｈｅ－Ｎｅ：３０Ｊ／ｃｍ＾２〉ＣＯ２：３５．４Ｊ／ｃｍ＾２。对Ｈｅ－Ｎｅ激光照射花药及其愈伤组织的过氧化物酶同工酶分析,主要表现在弱酶带的变化上,无规律差异。     

激光诱变选育AC10菜用大青豆的研究报告

采用有性杂交和激光红宝石辐照交替进行,经１０多年的研究、试验、选育出一个蛋白质含量、脂肪含量特高的菜用大青豆－ＡＣ１０。ＡＣ１０菜用大青豆,系早熟、适应性广、抗逆性强、耐迟播、产量高、效益好的品种。全生育期１１０天、８０－８５天采摘青毛豆、单产鲜毛豆７００公斤以上,老豆单产１６０公斤左右。据农业部谷物测试中心分析,蛋白质含量４８．３２％,脂肪含量２１．３６％,合计６９．６８％。查新结果表明,为国内     

紫外激光消融过程的等效模型研究

本文引用等效模型,对激光消融过程进行了推导与计算,和实验结果比较表明,所得公式与实验结果能较好相符,可用于描述紫外激光消融过程。     

Effects of posture, hypotension and locally applied vasoconstriction on the middle ear microcirculation in anaesthetized humans

Studies by laser-Doppler flowmetry of middle ear microcirculation changes induced by physical and chemical stimuli in the animal have only recently been made. This prospective study, performed in humans, was designed to compare the effects of a postural manoeuvre (headup tilt 30°), hypotension and locally applied vasoconstriction on middle ear blood flow during anaesthesia. Circulatory changes provoked by a headup tilt of 30°, and successive intravenous boluses of potent vasodilators, were compared with circulatory changes provoked by locally applied adrenaline, in ten healthy patients in good physical states undergoing middle ear surgical repair. Heart rate and direct arterial pressure were continuously recorded via a radial artery cannula. Middle ear blood flow was continuously recorded via a laser-Doppler probe placed on the promontorium cavi tympani. Metabolic parameters (partial pressure of O₂ and CO₂ in arterial blood, pH, arterial lactate concentrations) and arterial concentrations of propofol were measured just before and just after the experiment. Headup tilt did not modify heart rate, mean arterial pressure or middle ear blood flow. Vasodilators (nicardipine, nitroprusside, nitroglycerin) provoked a fall in arterial pressure (P<0.0001,P<0.0001,P<0.019, respectively), but did not induce any significant variations in heart rate; variations occurred in middle ear blood flow (P>0.05, not significant) which were different according to patients and agents. Locally applied adrenaline provoked a fall in the middle ear blood flow (P<0.0012), with no effect on heart rate and arterial pressure. There were no significant changes in metabolic values, or propofol serum concentrations. The behaviour of the middle ear blood flow submitted to hypotension, posture, or to vasoconstriction could be related to counteracting regulatory responses and/or to direct vascular effects.     

Middle-ear development

Laser interferometry was used to measure umbo velocity in the developing BALB/c mouse middle ear at 133 pure-tone frequencies between 2.0 kHz and 40.0 kHz, all at a constant 100 dB sound pressure level. Umbo velocities increased with age across the entire frequency range, and reached adult-like levels by about 19 days between 2.0 and 22.0 kHz. Velocities at 28.0 and 34.0 kHz took 27 and 52 days respectively to reach adult-like levels.A simple middle-ear model utilizing compliance, resistance, and inertia elements matched the general trends of our velocity results and provided an indication of the anatomical basis for the growth in umbo velocity. The model suggested that velocity development at the lowest frequencies may be attributed to increases in tympanic membrane compliance. The model also indicated that both the frictional resistance of the middle ear and the inertia of the tympanic membrane and ossicles decreased during the growth period.At frequencies below 20.0 kHz, age-related increases in umbo velocity coincided with improvements in Nj₁ thresholds recorded from the round window and evoked potential thresholds obtained from the cochlear nucleus. These results indicated that the functional development of the middle-ear plays a major role in the development of hearing in the mouse.Portions of this work were presented at the Fifteenth Meeting of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology     

Displacement and Return Movement of Chloroplasts in the Marine Dinophyte Pyrocystis noctiluca. Experiments with Optical Tweezers

Infrared laser traps (optical tweezers) were used to study laser-induced organelle movements in the marine alga Pyrocystis noctiluca (Dinophyta). These cells are highly suitable for optical micromanipulation due to their large size and extensive vacuole. Experiments were done with plastids held by optical tweezers and moved from the nuclear area into the vacuole. The subsequent retraction movement was analysed for speed. The displaced organelles remained connected to their original position by a thin cytoplasmic strand, often less than 1 μm in diameter. When the organelles were released they rapidly returned at an initial rate of 81.7 ± 7.8 μm . s^?1 (overall displacement 50 μm, measured distance 20 μm, 25 °C ± 1 °C, number of cells 22), slowing down with progressive retraction of the connecting strand. The return movement was reduced to 4.2 ± 0.2 μ .s^?1 (n = 10) when the organelles were displaced and held for 1 min. Displacement to a longer distance increased the rate of return movement. A change from a high to a low environmental temperature significantly reduced movement from 94.5 ± 9.0 . s^?1 (30 °C ± 1 °C, n = 22) to 34.5 ± 2.7 μm .s^?1 (5°C ± 1 °C, n = 22). Nocodazole and N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), inhibitors of microtubules and acto-myosin, respectively, did not affect the retraction of the connecting strand, but at high concentrations of NEM it became increasingly difficult to move organelles away from the nuclear area. We suggest that the return movement of organelles within laser-induced artificial strands mainly depends on the viscoelastic properties of the tonoplast. The quantification of these properties by optical tweezers allows determination of reactions of plant cells to temperature changes.