玳瑁和绿海龟幼体外周血细胞的观察与比较

对玳瑁(Eretmochelys imbricata)和绿海龟(Chelonia mydas)外周血细胞形态特征及其数量进行了观察、测定与比较.结果表明,在2种海龟外周血都观察到7种血细胞:红细胞、淋巴细胞、单核细胞、嗜中性粒细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞、嗜碱性粒细胞和血栓细胞,除了绿海龟观察到大、小2种嗜酸性粒细胞外,另外几种血细胞的形态结构与其他爬行动物相似.白细胞分类计数表明,2种海龟白细胞中以嗜中性粒细胞数量最多,其次是淋巴细胞和单核细胞,嗜酸性粒细胞仅有少数,嗜碱性粒细胞极少,并且此类细胞在玳瑁的白细胞分类计数中为零.玳瑁红细胞数量为(346.7±68.4)×10~3个/μl,比绿海龟红细胞含量少,绿海龟为(403.3±170.6)×10~3/μl;玳瑁白细胞及血栓细胞数分别为(7.7±1.9)×10~3个/μl和(9.6±2.2)×10~3个/μl,绿海龟分别为(7.3±2.8)×10~3个/μl和(7.5±3.7) ×10~3个/μl.     

Gamma-glutamylcysteine protects ergothioneine-deficient Mycobacterium tuberculosis mutants against oxidative and nitrosative stress

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb.), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), cannot synthesize GSH, but synthesizes two major low molecular weight thiols namely mycothiol (MSH) and ergothioneine (ERG). Gamma-glutamylcysteine (GGC), an intermediate in GSH synthesis, has been implicated in the protection of lactic acid bacteria from oxidative stress in the absence of GSH. In mycobacteria, GGC is an intermediate in ERG biosynthesis, and its formation is catalysed by EgtA (GshA). GGC is subsequently used by EgtB in the formation of hercynine-sulphoxide-GGC. In this study, M.tb. mutants harbouring unmarked, in-frame deletions in each of the fives genes involved in ERG biosynthesis (egtA, egtB, egtC, egtD and egtE) or a marked deletion of the mshA gene (required for MSH biosynthesis) were generated. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analyses (LC-MS) revealed that the production of GGC was elevated in the MSH-deficient and the ERG-deficient mutants. The ERG-deficient ΔegtB mutant which accumulated GGC was more resistant to oxidative and nitrosative stress than the ERG-deficient, GGC-deficient ΔegtA mutant. This implicates GGC in the detoxification of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in M.tb.     

Caenorhabditis elegans and Panagrellus redivivus: Enzyme-mediated modification of chemotaxis

Treatment with mannosidase or sialidase completely inhibited chemotactic responses of Caenorhabditis elegans wild type, C. elegans mutants CB1377 (daf-6)X and CB1379 (che-3)I, and Panagrellus redivivus to a source of attractants. Trypsin (EC3.4.21.4) caused a partial reduction in the level of chemoresponse. Normal chemotaxis was renewed within 20 hr following exposure to the enzymes. Other enzymes tested had no effect. Experimental and supporting evidence is presented that behavioral modification resulted from functional impairments to receptors located within chemosensory sensilla.     

Ascaris lumbricoides and Ascaridia galli: Biogenic amines in adults and developmental stages

Ascaris lumbricoides var. hominis and Ascaridia galli contain 5-hydroxytryptamine, histamine, dopamine, and norepinephrine. The chick parasite showed lower levels of monoamines compared to human ascaris. Amine concentrations in females were higher than in males. In all specimens, 5-hydroxytryptamine was the highest while norepinephrine was found to be uniformly low. The female reproductive organ contained the maximum amount of dopamine while intestine was rich in histamine. A progressive increase in the concentrations of biogenic amines was noticed during development.     

Effects of acute and sub-chronic l-dopa therapy on striatal l-dopa methylation and dopamine oxidation in an MPTP mouse model of Parkinsons disease

Aims

The molecular mechanisms for the loss of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-dopa) efficacy during the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) are unknown. Modifications related to catecholamine metabolism such as changes in l-dopa and dopamine (DA) metabolism, the modulation of catecholamine enzymes and the production of interfering metabolites are the primary concerns of this study.

Main methods

Normal (saline) and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) pre-treated mice were primed with 100 mg/kg of l-dopa twice a day for 14 days, and a matching group remained l-dopa naïve. l-dopa naive and primed mice received a challenge dose of 100 mg/kg of l-dopa and were sacrificed 30 min later. Striatal catecholamine levels and the expression and activity of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) were determined.

Key findings

Normal and MPTP pre-treated animals metabolize l-dopa and DA similarly during l-dopa therapy. Administration of a challenge dose of l-dopa increased l-dopa and DA metabolism in l-dopa naïve animals, and this effect was enhanced in l-dopa primed mice. The levels of 3-OMD in MPTP pre-treated animals were almost identical to those in normal mice, which we found are likely due to increased COMT activity in MPTP pre-treated mice.

Significance

The results of this comparative study provide evidence that sub-chronic administration of l-dopa decreases the ability of the striatum to accumulate l-dopa and DA, due to increased metabolism via methylation and oxidation. This data supports evidence for the metabolic adaptation of the catecholamine pathway during long-term treatment with l-dopa, which may explain the causes for the loss of l-dopa efficacy.     

Effects of acetate and nitrite addition on fraction of denitrifying phosphate-accumulating organisms and nutrient removal efficiency in anaerobic/aerobic/anoxic process

The effects of acetate and nitrite on the performance of sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) employing an anaerobic/aerobic/anoxic (AOA) process were investigated. Three types of SBR operations were used: sodium acetate addition at the start of anoxic condition for heterotrophic denitrification (Type 1); sodium acetate addition at the start of aerobic condition for anoxic phosphate removal by denitrifying phosphate-accumulating organisms (DNPAOs) (Type 2: conventional AOA process); and nitrite addition at the start of aerobic condition for inhibition of phosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) (Type 3). A track experiment shows that Type 2 led to the best performance of SBRs among the three types. An analysis by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed that nitrite addition decreased the ratio of PAOs with a decrease in phosphorus removal efficiency. The fraction of DNPAOs in Type 2 was the highest at 13%, indicating that Type 2 is suitable for the simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal in the AOA process.     

S/MAR与基因表达

在真核生物的细胞核内,基因组是通过ＤＮＡ的核骨架附着（ＳＡＲ）或称核基质附着区（ＭＡＲ）（简记为Ｓ／ＭＡＲ）锚定在核骨架网状系统上的．Ｓ／ＭＡＲ既有一定的特征,又有多样性,研究认为它参与了ＤＮＡ复制调控和转录调控等多种核内生化过程,通过重组,在目的基因一侧或两侧带上Ｓ／ＭＡＲ后作基因转染或基因动植物,发现整合后的基因表达有时可增强几倍,甚至上万倍和／或显示位置独立效应,有些研究还报道,Ｓ／ＭＡＲ能     

Ligand-binding regulation of LXR/RXR and LXR/PPAR heterodimerizations: SPR technology-based kinetic analysis correlated with molecular dynamics simulation

Liver X receptor (LXR) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) are two members of nuclear receptors involved in the nutrient metabolisms of dietary fatty acid and cholesterol. They are found to be of cross-talk function in that LXR regulates fatty acid synthesis and PPAR controls fatty acid degradation. LXRs (LXRalpha and LXRbeta) function by forming obligate heterodimers with the retinoid X receptor (RXR), and subsequently binding to specific DNA response elements within the regulatory regions of their target genes. In this work, the kinetic features concerning LXR/RXR and LXR/PPAR interactions have been fully investigated using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology. It is found that LXRs could bind to all the three PPAR subtypes, PPARalpha, PPARgamma and PPARdelta with different binding affinities, and such receptor/receptor interactions could be regulated by ligand binding. Moreover, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed on six typical complex models. The results revealed that ligands may increase the interaction energies between the receptor interfaces of the simulated receptor/receptor complexes. The MD results are in agreement with the SPR data. Further analyses on the MD results indicated that the ligand binding might increase the hydrogen bonds between the interfaces of the receptor/receptor complex.     

Genetic variations of TLRs and their association with HPV/EBV,co-infection along with nicotine exposure in the development of premalignant/malignant lesions of the oral cavity in Indian population

Background: Despite being most preventable malignancies associated with smoked and smokeless tobacco products, squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity is one of the most common malignancy in India. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of TLRs in oral pre-cancerous, cancerous cases and their genotypic correlation with HPV/EBV, co-infection & lifestyle habits in Indian population.Methods: The present study was conducted on 300 subjects (100 OSCC, 50 pre-cancer & 150 controls). The amplification of TLRs gene and HPV/EBV co-infection was assessed by Nested PCR, PCR–RFLP and further confirmation by direct sequencing.Results: The TLR 9(−1486 T/C), revealed that the TT vs. CT + CC genotype had a ˜5-fold increased risk for the development of pre-cancerous lesions as compared to controls (p = 0.0001). Further analysis showed that the risk of cancer was extremely pronounced in HPV/EBV, co-infection (p = 0.0141), implicating the possible interaction between TLR 9(−1486T/C) genotype and HPV infection in increasing cancer/pre-cancer risk. The ‘G’ allele of TLR 4(+896A/G) was also a higher risk of developing pre-cancerous lesions with 4.5 fold and statistically significant (p = 0.0001). The genotypic association of TLR 9(-1486T/C) in OSMF cases showed ˜8 fold increased risk and TLR 4(+896A/G) showed fourteen fold higher risk for leukoplakia (p < 0.0001, OR = 14.000).Conclusion: Genetic polymorphism of TLR 9(−1486 T/C) and TLR 4(+896A/G) may influence the effects of HPV/EBV, co-infection and play the significant role in development of the disease. The significance of these TLRs seemed to be enhanced by tobacco chewing and smoking habits also, which act as an important etiological risk factor for OSCC.     

Polymerization study of o-Si(OH)4 and complexation with Am(III), Eu(III) and Cm(III)

The stability constants of Am⁺³, Cm³⁺ and Eu³⁺ with ortho silicate, were measured at pH 3.50 and in ionic strengths of 0.20-1.00 M (NaClO₄) by the solvent extraction method. The Am⁺³, Cm³⁺ and Eu³⁺ forms 1:1 complex with ortho silicate ion at pH 3.60 with the stability constant (log β₁) value of 8.02 ± 0.10, 7.78 ± 0.08 and 7.81 ± 0.11, respectively. The stability of these metal ions decrease with increased ionic strength from 0.20 to 1.00 M (NaClO₄) for silicic acid concentrations of 0.002-0.020 M. Increasing silicic acid concentration above 0.02 M increased the amount of M³⁺ extracted into the organic phase, contrary to the trend usually observed for increased ligand concentration in solvent extraction. This reversed trend is likely due to the extraction of cationic species of silicic acid by HDEHP. Aging time (60-300 min) had no effect on the stability constant of these metal ions for 0.002-0.020 M silicic acid at pH 3.50 and I = 0.20 M (NaClO₄).The fraction of polymeric silicic acid present in solutions of 0.20-4.50 M NaClO₄ solutions at pH 3.0-10.0, T = 0-60 °C and aging time = 5-300 min was measured for determination of the silicomolybdate reaction to ascertain the proper conditions to study metal-silicate complexation.     

Structures, magnetic properties, and XPS of one-dimensional cyanide-bridged Cu-Ni/Pt bimetallic assembly complexes

Synthesis, crystal structures, and spectroscopic and magnetic properties of new one-dimensional cyano-bridged bimetallic complexes, [Cu^II(N-Eten)₂][M^II(CN)₄] (N-Eten = N-ethylethylenediamine; M^II = Ni^II (1) and Pt^II (2)), have been reported. Both complexes consist of one-dimensional alternate chains of Cu^II and M^II moieties. The Pt-C bond distances of 1.997(3) and 2.001(3) Å for 2 are considerably longer than the Ni-C bond lengths of 1.866(3) and 1.872(3) Å for 1. Because of pseudo Jahn-Teller distortion, the axial Cu-N bond distances of 2.554(2) and 2.550(3) Å for 1 and 2 are longer than those of equatorial ones of 2.008(2) and 2.056(2) Å for 1 and 2.010(2) and 2.054(2) Å for 2. In contrast to M^II-C bond distances, the Cu-N ones of 1 are similar to those of 2 regardless of element-substitution. These complexes indicate weak antiferromagnetic interactions with Weiss constants = − 4.68 and −3.95 K for 1 and 2, respectively. The emission spectrum of 2 (λ_ex = 360 nm) exhibits a broad band with peaks at 22 800 and 24 000 cm⁻¹ at 298 K. The Cu 2p_1/2 and 2p_3/2 peaks of XPS spectra are compared systematically to various copper(II) complexes showing different bridging features or distorted coordination geometries as models for excited structures induced by external physical conditions. The spectroscopic properties are discussed from the viewpoint of magneto-optical properties.     

Plasmodium lophurae: Quantitative in vitro incorporation of 14C-1-acetate into lipids

Blood from ducks parasitized with Plasmodium lophurae and normal duck blood were incubated with sodium ¹⁴C-1-acetate. After release of the parasites from infected red blood cells (RBC) and concurrent treatment of normal blood, lipids were extracted from cellular material and plasma and lipid classes separated by thin-layer chromatography. Specific activity (dpm/mg lipid) of lipid classes was measured quantitatively by liquid scintillation radioassay and gravimetric analysis. The data indicated that the parasite within the RBC incorporated ¹⁴C-labeled lipid precursors.Experiments employing sodium ¹⁴C-1-acetate in two concentrations, 50 μCi ¹⁴C in 0.91 μmole sodium acetate/50 ml blood and 500 μCi ¹⁴C in 9.1 μmole sodium acetate/50 ml blood (1.82 × 10^?5M and 1.82 × 10^?4M), showed higher ¹⁴C incorporation into parasitized blood than normal blood preparations at the higher substrate concentration at 5 hr of incubation. At $\text{1.82 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?5}}\text{M}{}^{14}$C-1-acetate, the highest specific activity in P. lophurae was associated with lipid alcohols. Monoglycerides and diglycerides were significantly labeled. At the higher acetate concentration (1.82 × 10^?4M), monoglyceride and diglyceride lipid classes had the highest specific activity in preparations of partially purified P. lophurae.Lipids of plasma from parasitized blood incubated for 5 hr with both concentrations of labeled acetate exhibited the highest specific activity in the free fatty acid class and sterols.At 24 hr of incubation, the lipids of partially purified P. lophurae had increased specific activity in free fatty acids, diglycerides, monoglycerides, phospholipids, and triglycerides.In plasma from parasitized blood incubated 24 hr with ¹⁴C-1-acetate, the highest specific activity and greatest percent of ¹⁴C incorporation was found in free fatty acids.     

OPG/RANK/RANKL系统与骨质疏松研究最新进展

骨质疏松是严重威胁中老年人健康的骨科常见病,OPG/RANK/RANKL是参与调节骨重建的最重要的分子系统之一,与骨疾病相关的骨质疏松有密切联系,并已成为药物设计的新靶点.因此,对该系统的深入研究将为骨生理、病理机制阐明及骨疾病防治带来积极影响.     

Modeling and experimental study on the anaerobic/aerobic/anoxic process for simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal: The effect of acetate addition

A mathematical model based on the simulation software AQUASIM was developed to validate an anaerobic/aerobic/anoxic (AOA) process that enables simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal in a single reactor by adding external organic carbon to preclude excess aerobic phosphate uptake by polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) and provide phosphate for denitrifying PAOs (DNPAOs). Aerobic batch tests after anaerobic phosphate release with different chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations indicated that the effect of COD concentration on the phosphate uptake preclusion could be expressed by a simple formula. The reduction factor reflecting the formula, which retards the aerobic phosphate uptake in the presence of COD, was added to the process rates of aerobic polyphosphate storage and PAOs growth in the model. The improved model, which included the reduction factor, reasonably matched the experimental result regarding aerobic phosphate uptake behavior whereas the model without it did not; thus, the former precisely predicts the AOA process behavior.     

Design,synthesis and pharmacology of aortic-selective acyl-CoA: Cholesterol O-acyltransferase (ACAT/SOAT) inhibitors

We describe our molecular design of aortic-selective acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol O-acyltransferase (ACAT, also abbreviated as SOAT) inhibitors, their structure–activity relationships (SARs) and their pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacological profiles. The connection of two weak ligands—N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)acetamide (50% inhibitory concentration [IC₅₀]?=?8.6?μM) and 2-(methylthio)benzo[d]oxazole (IC₅₀?=?31?μM)—via a linker comprising a 6 methylene group chains yielded a highly potent molecule, 9-(benzo[d]oxazol-2-ylthio)-N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)nonanamide (3h) that exhibited high potency (IC₅₀?=?0.004?μM) toward aortic ACAT. This head-to-tail design made it possible to markedly enhance the activity to 2150- to 7750-fold and to discriminate the isoform-selectivity based on the double-induced fit mechanism. At doses of 1 and 3?mg/kg, 3h significantly decreased the lipid-accumulation areas in the aortic arch to 74 and 69%, respectively without reducing the plasma total cholesterol level in high fat- and cholesterol-fed F₁B hamsters. Here, we demonstrate the antiatherosclerotic effect of 3hin vivo via its direct action on aortic ACAT and its powerful modulator of cholesterol level. This molecule is a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of diseases involving ACAT-1 overexpression.     

Consequences of ions and pH on the supramolecular organization of sphingomyelin and sphingomyelin/cholesterol bilayers

For drug delivery purpose the anticancer drug S12363 was loaded into ESM/Chol-liposomes using either a pH or an ammonium gradient. Association between the drug and the liposome depends markedly on the liposome membrane structure. Thus, ESM and ESM/Chol bilayer organization had been characterized by coupled DSC and XRDT as a function of both cholesterol concentration and aqueous medium composition. ESM bilayers exhibited a ripple lamellar gel phase P(beta') below the melting temperature and adopted a L(beta)-like gel phase upon Chol insertion. Supramolecular organization of ESM and ESM/Chol bilayers was not modified by citrate buffer or ammonium sulfate solution whatever the pH (3< or = pH < or =7). Nevertheless, in ESM bilayer, ammonium sulfate salt induced a peculiar organization of head groups, leading to irregular d-spacing and weakly correlated bilayers. Moreover, in the presence of salts, a weakening of van der Waals attraction forces was seen and led to a swelling of the water layer.     

草鱼CNBP的分子特征及其进化分析

从草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idella)肝肾cDNA文库中克隆到细胞核酸结合蛋白基因CNBP的完整开放阅读框序列.分析表明草鱼CNBP由163个氨基酸残基组成,含有7个保守CCHC型锌指结构、核定位信号区和RGG框,与其他鱼类的同源性很高.与人及其他脊椎动物的相比,草鱼细胞核酸结合蛋白在第3个锌指中的第5个氨基酸残基由Gly变成His,另外在第1锌指和第2锌指结构间,缺失6～14个氨基酸残基.虽然如此,适应性进化分析显示细胞核酸结合蛋白没有经历正达尔文选择(ω≤1),即这种结构的差异还不足以产生新的功能.这表明CNBP处于中性进化中.     

个体化快速心律失常虚拟介入手术体系的建立与临床应用价值研究

目的:建立个体化快速心律失常虚拟介入手术体系定位手术靶点并分析其临床应用价值。方法:收集2011年1月-2013年1月在我院进行射频消融手术治疗的室性早搏和房室折返性心动过速患者共120例,(其中室性早搏40例,房室折返性心动过速80例),平均年龄40.6±9.7岁,获取数字新电机记录18导体表心电图(ECG)、数字食道调搏图、心脏CT成像原始数据,并记录手术靶点。所有采集心电图和CT数据进行多模式序列识别系统的计算机辅助诊断(CAD)处理,然后再对处理后的数据进行分析。两名心内科医生人工对心电图进行分析定位,并不告知患者的临床资料及射频消融手术最终靶点定位结果,按照室性早搏和房室旁路的诊断定位标准进行诊断,随后两名医师对处理后的心电图进行诊断,再次得出诊断结果,以术中成功消融靶点定位诊断为金标准,分析,个体化快速心律失常虚拟介入手术体系定位手术靶点的特异性、敏感性、阳性预测值,阴性预测值等指标。结果:ECG+CAD组诊断准确度高于单独ECG组,ECG组ROC曲线下面积(Az)=0.742,95%可信区间[0.652-0.832];ECG+CAD组:Az=0.934,95%可信区间[0.882-0.985];ECG+CAD组:精确度0.908;敏感性:0.905;特异性:0.923;阳性预测值:0.818;阴性预测值:0.934,较单独ECG组明显提高。结论:与单独体表心电图定位诊断相比,虚拟介入手术体系显著提高快速心律失常诊靶点定位的准确度,临床应用价值更高。     

甘氨鹅脱氧胆酸钠通过MAPK/ERK1/2介导Bcl-2在Ser70位点的磷酸化引起人肝细胞癌的抗药

B细胞淋巴瘤-2（Bcl-2）是一种重要的抗凋亡蛋白质,在多种人类肿瘤中普遍过表达。甘氨鹅脱氧胆酸钠（GCDA）与消化道肿瘤的发生发展密切相关,并能介导肝癌细胞对化疗药物的抵抗。本文旨在探讨在GCDA介导的人肝细胞癌（HCC）耐药性中Bcl-2的作用及其机制。本研究以肝癌细胞系为研究对象,Western印迹结果显示,Bcl-2在多种肝癌细胞系中均有表达。设计靶向Bcl-2的siRNA沉默HCC细胞系内源性Bcl-2的表达,发现Bcl-2沉默之后促进了化疗药物5-FU介导的HCC细胞凋亡。机制上,GCDA可介导Bcl-2在Ser70位点的磷酸化,而Ser70位点的磷酸化能够被PD98059（MAPK/ERK1/2抑制剂）所抑制。构建huBcl2-WT和huBcl2-S70A真核表达载体,脂质体转染HCC细胞系。用Annexin V-FITC/PI流式细胞术检测凋亡细胞。结果显示,huBcl2-WT过表达能抑制5 FU介导的凋亡,S70位点失活突变成A后,Bcl-2的过表达不能抑制5-FU介导的凋亡。本研究提示,GCDA通过MAPK/ERK1/2通路介导的Bcl-2 Ser70位点的磷酸化,在肝癌细胞的存活和抗药中发挥重要作用。抑制Bcl-2能够促进化疗药物5-FU介导的HCC细胞凋亡,该结果为治疗GCDA介导的耐药性肝癌提供新的思路。