Catalpol attenuates nitric oxide increase via ERK signaling pathways induced by rotenone in mesencephalic neurons

Catalpol has been shown to rescue neurons from kinds of damage in vitro and in vivo in previous reports. However, the effect of catalpol on the nitric oxide (NO) system via MAPKs signaling pathway of mesencephalic neurons largely remains to be verified. The current study examined that whether catalpol modulated NO and iNOS increase by rotenone in primary mesencephalic neurons and investigated its underlying signaling pathways. Present results indicated that catalpol inhibited primary mesencephalic neurons from apoptosis by morphological assay, immunocytochemistry and flow cytometric evaluation. Moreover, the ERK signaling pathway plays an important role in NO-mediated degeneration of neuron. The current results suggest that catalpol is a potential agent for the prevention of neurons apoptosis by regulating NO and iNOS increase in ERK-mediated neurodegenerative disorders.     

Limited genetic diversity of an endemic subspecies Schizopygopsis chengi baoxingensis as inferred from the mitochondrial DNA control region

As a subspecies of Schizopygopsis chengi (Fang), Schizopygopsis chengi baoxingensis (Fu, Ding et Ye) occurs as a single population endemic to the Baoxing River in China. The influences from the construction of hydropower dams in its distribution area might result in its extinction in the future due to its very narrow habitat and small population size. In this study, we sequenced the mitochondrial DNA control region of 81 individuals to analyze the genetic variability of the subspecies, hoping to acquire basic genetic information. The results revealed a limited genetic diversity of the population. Total samples could only be defined as seven haplotypes based on nucleotide variations. The nucleotide diversity (0.0008), haplotype diversity (0.534), and overall mean genetic distance among individuals (0.00080 ± 0.00053) were very low. Therefore, it is very necessary and urgent to conserve the population of this subspecies, avoiding further genetic loss, or even extinction. Handling editor: Christian Sturmbauer     

桃蚜对不同单色光趋性反应的测定

为了探讨蚜虫对不同色光选择反应的定量指标, 采用滤光片技术测定了有翅和无翅桃蚜Myzus persicae对不同波长单色光的趋性反应。结果表明: 有翅蚜对490~550 nm范围内的单色光表现出明显趋性, 其中对538.9和549.9 nm的绿偏黄色光趋性最强, 平均位移分别达25.29和22.97 cm, 其次为491.5 nm的蓝绿色光, 而对于波长576.0 nm的黄色光并没有表现出明显趋性。无翅蚜对不同单色光的趋性反应则没有明显的峰值, 最高相对平均位移仅1.41。行为测定结果与前人电生理测定的结果基本一致, 说明以位移作为小体昆虫趋光性强弱的指标是可靠的。     

CYP9A17v2组成型过量表达参与棉铃虫对拟除虫菊酯的抗性

微粒体细胞色素P450氧化酶介导的解毒代谢增强是棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera对拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂产生抗性的主要原因。作者前期的研究表明, CYP9A12和CYP9A14组成型过量表达与棉铃虫YGF品系对拟除虫菊酯的高水平抗性相关, CYP9A12和CYP9A14的功能表达研究结果为其参与对拟除虫菊酯抗性提供了直接证据。本研究通过对棉铃虫CYP9A17v2的克隆、mRNA表达水平和功能表达的研究, 以期明确该基因是否参与棉铃虫对拟除虫菊酯的抗性。结果表明: CYP9A17v2与CYP9A12的氨基酸序列具有很高的相似性（94%）。与棉铃虫对照品系（YG）相比, CYP9A17v2在YGF抗性品系末龄幼虫脂肪体中具有10.9倍的组成型过量表达, 而在中肠中未发现过量表达。用酿酒酵母Saccharomyces cerevisiae异源表达的CYP9A17v2能够代谢多种拟除虫菊酯（顺式氰戊菊酯、溴氰菊酯和氟氯氰菊酯）。据此认为CYP9A17v2组成型过量表达参与了棉铃虫对拟除虫菊酯的抗性。至此, CYP9A亚家族中已有3个P450基因（CYP9A12, CYP9A14 和 CYP9A17v2）被证实参与了棉铃虫对拟除虫菊酯的氧化解毒代谢。     

Effects of triptolide from Tripterygium wilfordii on ERα and p53 expression in two human breast cancer cell lines

The aim of the study was to discover possible differential cytotoxicity of triptolide towards estrogen-sensitive MCF-7 versus estrogen-insensitive MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Considering that MCF-7 cells express functional Estrogen receptor α (ERα) and wild-type p53, whereas MDA-MB-231 cells which are ERα-negative express mutant p53, the anti-proliferation effect of triptolide on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were examined, the apoptotic effect and cell cycle arrest caused by triptolide were investigated, ERα and p53 expression were also observed in this paper. The results showed that the anti-proliferation effects were induced by triptolide in both cell lines. But the value of IC₅₀ in MCF-7 cells for its anti-proliferation effect was about one tenth of that in MDA-MB-231 cells, which indicated that the effect is more potent in MCF-7 cells. Condensed chromatin or fragmented nuclei could be found in MCF-7 cells treated with only 40 nM triptolide but in MDA-MB-231 cells they couldn’t be observed until the concentration reached to 400 nM. Triptolide induced significant S cell cycle arrest along with the presence of sub-G0/G1 peak in MDA-MB-231 cells, whereas there was only slightly S cell cycle arrest on cell cycle distribution in MCF-7 cells. The role of p53 in two breast cancer cells was examined, the results showed that the mutant p53 in MDA-MB-231 cells was suppressed and the wild-type p53 in MCF-7 was increased. Moreover, triptolide could down regulate the expression of ERα in MCF-7 cells. The results showed that triptolide is much more sensitive to ERα-positive MCF-7 cells than to ERα-negative MDA-MB-231 cells, and the sensitivity is significantly associated with the ERα and p53 status.     

外科重症治疗病房中侵袭性真菌感染及耐药性分析

近年来,医院内侵袭性真菌感染（invasive fungal infection,IFI）的发生率明显增加,尤多见于免疫功能低下的患者（例如：血液恶性肿瘤、器官移植术后、ICU危重患者等）。不同疾病患者发生的侵袭性真菌感染各有其特点,外科重症治疗病房（surgical intensive care unit,SICU）中,患者多具有高龄、手术史、合并多种基础疾病或免疫功能低下等情况,真菌感染的发生率较普通病房更高^[1],病死率可高达38％-68％^[2],仅次于血液系统肿瘤患者^[3]。     

胸腺素α原反义寡核苷酸对胃癌细胞生长的影响

目的:探讨反义胸腺素α原(Prothymosin alpha,ProTα)基因转染对胃癌细胞生长的影响,为以ProTα为靶向的胃癌基因治疗开辟新的途径.方法:人工合成ProTα反义寡核苷酸(ProTα-AS-ODN),以阳离子聚合物转染法转染体外培养的人胃癌细胞BGC-823,以正义寡核苷酸和未转染组为对照,应用RT-PCR及免疫细胞化学(immunocytochemistry,ICC)法分析ProTα基因及其蛋白的表达,MTT法分析细胞生长抑制作用,Hoechst 33258检测细胞凋亡.结果:RT-PCR、ICC显示ProTα-AS-ODN转染组ProTα mRNA及其蛋白的表达显著减少,MTT检测表明ProTα-AS-ODN转染组活细胞数较其它各组均低(P＜0.05),Hoechst 33258则显示其凋亡细胞数较其它各纽明显增高(P＜0.01).结论:Proα-AS-ODN成功转染人胃癌细胞BGC-823,封闭了ProTα mRNA的翻译,使已转染的细胞ProTα蛋白的表达减少,且可抑制细胞的增殖并诱导细胞发生凋亡.     

急性期蛋白的研究进展

急性期蛋白(如珠蛋白、血清淀粉样蛋白A、C-反应蛋白)是指机体受感染、创伤、炎症等应激原刺激下所产生变化的蛋白,又叫急性期反应物或应激敏感蛋白质.近年来研究表明:血清中急性期蛋白的浓度变化可为疾病的诊断、预防提供可靠的依据.已应用到被屠宰动物的疾病控制及目前亚临床动物疾病导致的畜禽出生率低等问题的监控上.本文就急性期蛋白的研究进展、临床应用及将来的发展趋势做一综述,为医学临床、科研、肉品安全等诸多方面的研究提供新的思路.     

广东省蚂蚁种类与分布

本文记录了广东省蚂蚁的种类和分布,共计8亚科,55属,160种,其中10个广东省新纪录属,59个广东省新纪录种;标本主要保存于广东省昆虫研究所蚂蚁利用与蚁害监控团队以及中山大学昆虫标本室.