Diallyl trisulfide induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation of A549 cells in vitro and in vivo

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality all over the world. In recent years, pulmonary adenocarcinoma has surpassed squamous cell carcinoma in frequency and is the predominant form of lung cancer in many countries. Epidemiological investigations have shown an inverse relationship between garlic (Allium sativum) consumption and death rate from many cancers. Diallyl trisulfide (DATS) is one of the garlic-derived compounds (also known as: organosulfer compounds, OSC). DATS can induce apoptosis and inhibit the growth of many cancer cell lines. Our study demonstrated that the apoptotic incidents induced by DATS were a mitochondria-dependent caspase cascade through a significant decrease of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 that resulted in up-regulation of the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and the activity of caspase-3, -8, and -9. Eventually, DATS induced the apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, by establishing an animal model of female BALB/c nude mice with A549 xenografts, we found that oral gavage of DATS significantly retarded growth of A549 xenografts in nude mice without causing weight loss or any other side effects compared with the control group. All the evidence both in vitro and in vivo suggested that DATS could be an ideal anti-cancer drug.     

条纹斑竹鲨基因组的RAPD分析初报

采用11种随机引物对4 条条纹斑竹鲨基因组进行了RAPD检测.结果表明,11种引物在每条个体上扩增的 DNA片段总数在77～84之间,单个随机引物扩增的DNA片段数目由1至11条不等,平均为7.5条 DNA 片段,片段的大小在 300～2 800bp之间.个体之间的相似率在90%以上.     

Delayed development of the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and increased parasitism by Encarsia bimaculata in response to sublethal doses of piperonyl butoxide

Abstract Effects of sublethal piperonyl butoxide (PB) on parasitization of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius ) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) by Encarsia bimaculata Heraty et Polaszek (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) were evaluated both in cage and greenhouse experiments. When first, second and third instar B. tabaci nymphs were treated with PB, all but the first instar were significantly prolonged. Data indicated that sublethal PB could improve E. bimaculata parasitism rates without influencing parasitoid eclosion rates. Prolonged development increased rates of parasitism by E. bimaculata, from 17.6% to 24.7% in cages, presumably by increasing the duration of host exposure. Sublethal PB combined with E. bimaculata as an integrated approach to control B. tabaci was evaluated using life table parameters under greenhouse conditions. Indices of population trend (I) calculated from life tables were estimated at 4.6 for B. tabaci exposed to PB and parasitoids compared to 14.1 with parasitoids alone and 23.5 in untreated controls. The results showed that after PB was sprayed and parasitoids introduced, development of B. tabaci was delayed and the peak of each stage was postponed. The older nymphal stage had highest mortality, primarily due to mortality caused by parasitism by E. bimaculata.     

Isolation and characterization of a mesophilic Arthrospira maxima strain capable of producing docosahexaenoic acid

A strain of the cyanobacterium Arthrospira was isolated from Lake Chahannaoer in northern China and was characterized according to microscopic morphology, photosynthetic oxygen-evolving activity, growth rate, and nutritional profile. Compared with thermophilic Arthrospira species occurring naturally in tropical and subtropical lakes, this isolate is mesophilic and grows optimally at ~20 degreesC. The total protein, fatty acid, phycocyanin, carotenoid, and chlorophyll a contents were 67.6, 6.1, 4.32, 0.29, and 0.76 grams per 100 grams of dry weight, respectively. The strain is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). An essential omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), was detected, and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and DHA accounted for 28.3% of the total fatty acid content. These features of this newly isolated strain make it potentially useful in commercial mass culture in local areas or as a biofuel feedstock. It is also an alternative resource for studying the metabolic PUFA pathways and mechanisms of cold stress tolerance in cyanobacteria.     

短期身心训练可以引起大脑灰质变化吗

持续数月的运动学习或者工作记忆训练可以引发成年人大脑灰质的变化,其结构变化的区域与任务有关.是否短期身心训练可以引起类似的大脑大脑灰质变化尚不清楚.在前期工作基础上,本文研究了连续两周的整体身心调节法训练以及放松训练对大脑可塑性的影响.结果表明:采用基于像素的形态学方法,没有发现两周整体身心调节法训练以及放松训练可以引起大脑结构变化.下一步的研究将以大样本并增加训练时间采探索训练引发的神经可塑性规律.     

结核分枝杆菌分泌蛋白ESAT-6的表达、纯化和鉴定

目的：克隆结核分枝杆菌分泌蛋白ESAT-6基因,并在大肠杆菌中进行表达和纯化。方法：用PCR方法从结核分枝杆菌H37Rv基因组扩增出ESAT-6基因片段,克隆至pMD18一T载体中,序列测定正确后,将其亚克隆到表达载体pGEX-4T－1并在大肠杆菌DH5α中表达,表达蛋白经SDS—PAGE及Westem—blot分析后,亲和层析法纯化蛋白。结果：成功克隆了ESAT-6基因,并对其在E．coli中进行了表达,SDS—PAGE及Western—blot分析表明表达产物正确。通过GST纯化系统获得34kD纯化蛋白,与文献报道相符。结论：成功获得了纯化的ESAT-6蛋白,为进一步研究ESAT－6蛋白的致病机理提供了实验依据。     

巴东过路黄中三萜皂苷及其体外抗肿瘤活性研究

从巴东过路黄(Lysimachia patungensis)95%乙醇提取物的正丁醇萃取部位中,分离到2个齐墩果烷型三萜皂苷,经光谱鉴定,分别为ardicrenin(1)和ardisiacrispinA(2)。体外抗肿瘤实验显示ardicrenin(1)对人脑胶质瘤(SWO-38)、口腔上皮癌(KB)、人乳腺癌(MCF-7)和人宫颈癌(Hela)细胞的半数毒性浓度(TC50)分别为3.16、3.16、2.97、2.42μmol/L,ArdisiacrispinA(2)对上述细胞的TC50分别为3.96、3.01、1.98、2.73μmol/L。     

紫茉莉开花过程中花色和花色素的变化规律

紫茉莉是我国广泛分布的庭院花卉之一,具有丰富的花色。但不同花色紫茉莉在开花过程中的花色变化规律及其呈色机制还不清楚。以紫红色、黄色和白色紫茉莉为研究对象,分别通过色差仪测定法和紫外-可见分光光度法测定了不同开花时期不同花色紫茉莉花色表型及各类色素含量,探讨了其花色和色素变化规律,揭示其呈色机制。结果表明,从花蕾期到盛开期,紫红色紫茉莉花冠由淡绿色转变为紫红色,明度L^*值和色相b^*值减小,而色相a^*值、色度C^*值和色度角h值增大,叶绿素含量逐渐下降,类胡萝卜素、花色素苷和总黄酮含量逐渐升高;黄色紫茉莉花冠由淡绿色转变为黄色,盛开期具有最高的色度C^*值、色相a^*值和b^*值,整个开花过程具有较稳定的叶绿素和总黄酮含量,同时具有较高的类胡萝卜素含量;白色紫茉莉花冠由淡绿色转变为白色,过渡期具有最高的明度L^*值、色度C^*值、色相a^*值和b^*值,整个开花过程花色素苷和总黄酮含量较低,但随着开花进程逐渐升高,而类胡萝卜素含量稳定,过渡期总叶绿素含量显著低于其他2个时期。可见,不同花色紫茉莉开花过程中花色变化规律存在差异,而其差异性与其相应的色素成分变化密切相关。     

长期住院老年患者感染的鲍曼不动杆菌耐药性分析

为了解复旦大学附属华东医院长期住院老年患者感染的鲍曼不动杆菌的耐药性特征,本研究收集了2011年9月~2012年8月临床分离自老年病区长期住院患者的52株鲍曼不动杆菌,分析菌株的耐药性、产酶类型、生物膜形成能力及耐药基因的携带情况。结果显示,菌株主要分布在呼吸重症监护室,分离的标本以痰标本为主,占86.54%。52株鲍曼不动杆菌中,多重耐药菌株最高,占76.92%。对头孢哌酮/舒巴坦耐药率最低,为30.77%,对其余抗菌药物耐药率均在50%以上。产酶阳性率为82.69%,其中产其他水解酶的菌株最多,占63.46%。生物膜形成的检出率为5.77%。6株广泛耐药菌株共检出9种耐药基因。结果提示,从老年病区长期住院患者分离的鲍曼不动杆菌耐药现状严重。因此,医院感染控制应以呼吸重症监护室为重点,同时加强对生物膜阳性菌株所分布病区的耐药性监测和消毒隔离,以预防和控制耐药菌的产生和传播。