Abnormal methylation of p16/CDKN2A AND p14/ARF genes GpG Islands in non-small cell lung cancer and in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Multiplex methylation-sensitive PCR and methylation-specific PCR were employed in studying the methylation of CpG islands in the p16/CDKN2A and p14/ARF promoter and the first exon regions in non-small cell lung cancer (54 samples) and acute B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (61 samples). Differences in methylation were detected between types of neoplasia as well as between CpG islands studied within the same types of tumors. High level of the p16/CDKN2A first exon CpC island methylation was revealed in non-small cell lung cancer (68%) and in acute B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (55%) and the CpG island of p14/ARF first exon was nonmethylated in these types of tumors. The methylation of CpG-rich fragments of genes p16/CDKN2A and p14/ARF promoters was analysed. As was found out, CpG islands located in 5' areas of one and the same gene can differ in methylation frequencies. The comparison of sensitivity between methylation-specific PCR and methylation-sensitive PCR used in the methylations studies was carried out.     

温度对中型指环虫产卵和孵化的影响

指环虫病是严重影响鱼类养殖的寄生虫病.为了有效控制指环虫病,实验研究了寄生在金鱼(Carassius auratus)鳃部的中型指环虫(Dactylogyrus intermedius)卵、纤毛幼虫的形态,以及在离体条件下温度对其产卵和孵化的影响.成熟的中型指环虫虫卵大部分为梨形,长30 μm左右,后端有一个卵柄.纤毛幼虫呈圆筒状,两端稍尖,眼点两对;后吸盘具有若干对小锚钩;在前部、中部和尾部分别具有一圈纤毛.实验研究了4℃、10℃、22℃、30℃和35℃条件下中型指环虫的产卵和孵化情况,在4℃条件下,中型指环虫基本不产卵也不孵化;在其他4个温度条件下,产卵量随着温度的升高而增加,其平均产卵量分别为3.30、4.10、4.13和4.24枚/虫.统计结果显示:在35℃条件下的产卵量明显高于10℃(P＜0.05),其他温度条件下的平均产卵量没有显著性差异.中型指环虫的产卵速率随着温度的升高而加快,产卵维持的时间分别为4d、23h、15h和llh.孵化率在22℃时最高,为72.7％,在30℃和35℃的孵化率为50％左右,卡方检验显示:4种温度下的孵化率之间没有显著性差异p＞0.05);随着温度的升高,孵化速率逐渐加快,而孵化时间和纤毛幼虫的存活时间则缩短,平均孵化时间分别为24d、3d、42h和26h,纤毛幼虫的最长存活时间分别为4d、3d、56h和34h.结果显示,当水温为22℃时,中型指环虫的产卵数量和纤毛幼虫的存活时间都比较高,且孵化率最高,表明该温度条件较适合中型指环虫的种群增长.     

Metabolism of the androgenic precursor androstenedione and effects of aromatase inhibitors in cultured blood lymphocytes

Blood lymphocytes from 26 women were cultivated in RPMI-1640 for 72 hrs with or without dexamethasone, dbcAMP, and TPA. Androstenedione conversion was most often activated by the dbcAMP, then by Dex and TPA. Response to dbcAMP was most obvious in women under 50, whereas response to Dex--in women over 50. Aromatase inhibitor fadrosol displayed a tendency towards prevention of the activation of androstenedione conversion in cultivated lymphocytes. A possibility of aromatase gene induction in cultivated lymphocytes cannot be completely excluded and demands further investigation with the aid of molecular-genetic methods.     

Noninvasive estimation of the oxygen state of experimental tumor by diffuse optical spectroscopy

The potentialities of diffuse optical spectroscopy for the noninvasive estimation of the oxygen state of experimental tumors have been demonstrated. The distribution of total, oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin, as well as the level oxygen saturation of blood have been shown using two tumor models differing in the histological structure and functional characteristics. The results obtained by the optical method have been verified by immunohistochemical examination of tissue specimens with the exogenous hypoxia marker pimonidazole.     

Evolutionarily-conserved gene CKAP2,located in region 13q14.3 of the human genome, is frequently rearranged in various tumors

The human CKAP2 gene, which is involved in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, was localized via screening the GeneBridge 4 somatic cell radiation hybrid panel by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The CKAP2 gene was mapped between the WI-15460 and WI-3673 markers at the boundary between regions 13q14.3 and 13q21.1, at the distance of 14.39 cR (with 4.8 cR per cM) from the WI-5867 framework marker (lod score > 2.26). The human CKAP2 gene displayed high homology to mouse and rat expressed orthologs, A CKAP2-like sequence was found in human chromosome 14 and assumed to be a pseudogene resulting from duplication and subsequent mutations of the CKAP2 gene on chromosome 13. A possible role of the CKAP2 gene in oncogenesis associated with deletions and rearrangements of region 13q14.3-21.1 is discussed.     

Mixed urogenital infection in men

High occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) caused by a combination of different infective agents was established. In 62.5% of cases such diseases took a course typical for mixed infections. Combinations of infective agents of STD were found to have several typical associations, e.g. Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in combination with opportunistic microflora. The microbiocenosis of the reproductive tract was shown to form under the influence of a complex of endogenous (natural biological) and exogenous (sexual behavioral) factors leading, in each particular case, to the formation of stable associations.     

New steroid glycosides from the starfish Fromia milleporella

Two new steroid glycosides from the starfish Fromia milleporella collected in the Seychelles were isolated and characterized: milleporoside A, (20R, 24R)-29-O-[3-O-methyl-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-3-O-methyl-beta-D-xylopyranosyl]-24-ethyl-5alpha-cholestane-3beta,4beta,6alpha,8,15beta,16beta,29-heptaol, and milleporoside B, (20R, 24R)-(22E)-28-O-[3-O-methyl-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-3-O-methyl-beta-D-xylopyranosyl]-24-methyl-5alpha-cholest-22-ene-3beta,4beta,6alpha,8,15beta,16beta,28-heptaol. The structures of the glycosides were determined from their spectra and a comparison with spectral characteristics of known compounds. These compounds exhibit a moderate cytostatic activity toward the embryos of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius.     

食品微生物本科毕业论文实验的探索与实践——以干酪乳杆菌异源表达胆盐水解酶为例

毕业论文是本科教育教学过程中不可替代的重要环节之一,是检验学生综合素质的重要手段。以干酪乳杆菌异源表达胆盐水解酶为例,从论文选题、实验准备、实验研究和论文撰写等方面介绍上海理工大学食品微生物本科毕业论文实验的有关探索。学生通过综合运用所学理论知识和实验技能,能够顺利完成毕业论文实验,构建出具有工业应用潜力的耐胆盐干酪乳杆菌基因工程菌,达到本科毕业论文实践教学的目的。     

Microbiological and production characteristics of the high-temperature Kongdian bed revealed during field trial of biotechnology for the enhancement of oil recovery

Microbiological technology for the enhancement of oil recovery based on the activation of the stratal microflora was tested in the high-temperature horizons of the Kongdian bed (60 degrees C) of the Dagang oil field (China). This biotechnology consists in the pumping of a water-air mixture and nitrogen and phosphorus mineral salts into the oil stratum through injection wells in order to stimulate the activity of the stratal microflora which produce oil-releasing metabolites. Monitoring of the physicochemical, microbiological, and production characteristics of the test site has revealed large changes in the ecosystem as a result of the application of biotechnology. The cell numbers of thermophilic hydrocarbon-oxidizing, fermentative, sulfate-reducing, and methanogenic microorganisms increased 10-10 000-fold. The rates of methanogenesis and sulfate reduction increased in the near-bottom zone of the injection wells and of some production wells. The microbial oil transformation was accompanied by the accumulation of bicarbonate ions, volatile fatty acids, and biosurfactants in the formation waters, as well as of CH4 and CO2 both in the gas phase and in the oil. Microbial metabolites promoted the additional recovery of oil. As a result of the application of biotechnology, the water content in the production liquid from the test site decreased, and the oil content increased. This allowed the recovery of more than 14000 tons of additional oil over 3.5 years.     

A study of the inhomogeneity of bilayer lipid membranes by measurements of higher harmonics of transmembrane current

Higher harmonics of alternating current in bilayer lipid membranes caused by sinusoidal voltage applied to the membrane were measured. The bilayer lipid membranes were prepared from diphytanoylphosphatidylcholine in n-decane and n-tetradecane, and measurements were conducted with the aid of an analog-to-digital converter of 16th category. Sinusoidal voltage was formed using a digital-to-analog converter of the 16th category. The dynamic region of measurements was up 90 dB. The results of measurements were used to determine the alpha and beta coefficients of the expansion of membrane capacity C in terms of membrane voltage U C = C0 (1 + alphaU2 + betaU4). We showed in the framework of the electrostriction model that the relation between the alpha and beta coefficients characterizes the inhomogeneity of bilayer lipid membrane with respect to its thickness and Young modulus of elasticity.