The role of caveolae and caveolin 1 in calcium handling in pacing and contraction of mouse intestine

In mouse intestine, caveolae and caveolin‐1 (Cav‐1) are present in smooth muscle (responsible for executing contractions) and in interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC; responsible for pacing contractions). We found that a number of calcium handling/dependent molecules are associated with caveolae, including L‐type Ca²⁺ channels, Na⁺‐Ca²⁺ exchanger type 1 (NCX1), plasma membrane Ca²⁺ pumps and neural nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and that caveolae are close to the peripheral endo‐sarcoplasmic reticulum (ER‐SR). Also we found that this assemblage may account for recycling of calcium from caveolar domains to SR through L‐type Ca ⁺ channels to sustain pacing and contractions. Here we test this hypothesis further comparing pacing and contractions under various conditions in longitudinal muscle of Cav‐1 knockout mice (lacking caveolae) and in their genetic controls. We used a procedure in which pacing frequencies (indicative of functioning of ICC) and contraction amplitudes (indicative of functioning of smooth muscle) were studied in calcium‐free media with 100 mM ethylene glycol tetra‐acetic acid (EGTA). The absence of caveolae in ICC inhibited the ability of ICC to maintain frequencies of contraction in the calcium‐free medium by reducing recycling of calcium from caveolar plasma membrane to SR when the calcium stores were initially full. This recycling to ICC involved primarily L‐type Ca²⁺ channels; i.e. pacing frequencies were enhanced by opening and inhibited by closing these channels. However, when these stores were depleted by block of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺‐ATPase (SERCA) pump or calcium release was activated by carbachol, the absence of Cav‐1 or caveolae had little or no effect. The absence of caveolae had little impact on contraction amplitudes, indicative of recycling of calcium to SR in smooth muscle. However, the absence of caveolae slowed the rate of loss of calcium from SR under some conditions in both ICC and smooth muscle, which may reflect the loss of proximity to store operated Ca channels. We found evidence that these channels were associated with Cav‐1. These changes were all consistent with the hypothesis that a reduction of the extracellular calcium associated with caveolae in ICC of the myenteric plexus, the state of L‐type Ca²⁺ channels or an increase in the distance between caveolae and SR affected calcium handling.     

Augmented Insulinotropic Action of Arachidonic Acid through the Lipoxygenase Pathway in the Obese Zucker Rat

Objective: The metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) has been shown to be altered in severe insulin resistance that is present in obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats. We examined the effects and mechanism of action of AA on basal and glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion in pancreatic islets isolated from obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats and their homozygous lean (Fa/Fa) littermates. Research Methods and Procedures: Islets were isolated from 10‐ to 12‐week‐old rats and incubated for 45 minutes in glucose concentrations ranging from 3.3 to 16.7 mM with or without inhibitors of the cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase pathways. Medium insulin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay, and islet production of the 12‐lipoxygenase metabolite, 12‐hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12‐HETE), was measured by enzyme immunoassay. Results: In islets from lean animals, AA stimulated insulin secretion at submaximally stimulatory glucose levels (< 11.1 mM) but not at 16.7 mM glucose. In contrast, in islets derived from obese rats, AA potentiated insulin secretion at all glucose concentrations. AA‐induced insulin secretion was augmented in islets from obese compared with lean rats at high concentrations of AA in the presence of 3.3 mM glucose. Furthermore, the inhibitor of 12‐lipoxygenase, esculetin (0.5 μM), inhibited AA‐stimulated insulin secretion in islets from obese but not lean rats. Finally, the islet production of the 12‐HETE was markedly enhanced in islets from obese rats, both in response to 16.7 mM glucose and to AA. Discussion: The insulin secretory response to AA is augmented in islets from obese Zucker rats by a mechanism related to enhanced activity of the 12‐lipoxygenase pathway. Therefore, augmented action of AA may be a mechanism underlying the adaptation of insulin secretion to the increased demand caused by insulin resistance in these animals.     

Building a common feature hypothesis for thymidylate synthase inhibition

A set of 21 highly flexible competitive inhibitors of thymidylate synthase (TS; EC 2.1.1.45) covering a wide activity range (IC50 = 6 nM-100 microM) has been investigated by three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR). CATALYST was used to generate three-dimensional hypotheses to study the common interaction features among a set of thymidylate synthase inhibitor. The verification of the hypothesis was achieved by using the molecules outside the training set.     

聚类分析在制订育种方案中的应用

提出了品种选育中通过聚类分析划分品系的新思想。对全部目标性状做聚类分析,同类者放入同一品系中选育较好,不同类者可放入同一品系或不同品系。通过聚类分析可清楚地看出目标性状间的关系,为制订育种方案提供客观、清晰的理论依据。     

Superovulatory response of ovarian follicles of Wave 1 versus Wave 2 in heifers

Experiments were designed to test the hypotheses that ovarian follicular response to superstimulatory treatment initiated during Wave 1 is equivalent to that of Wave 2, and recovery rate and quality of ova embryos derived from follicles of Wave 1 are equivalent to those derived from follicles of Wave 2. In a preliminary experiment (Experiment 1), heifers were given Folltropin-V (20 mg NIH-FSH-P1, im, bid for 5 d) beginning the day after emergence of the first (n=10) or second (n=10) follicular wave of the estrous cycle, equivalent to approximately Day 1 and Day 10, respectively (Day 0=ovulation). Luteolysis was induced with cloprostenol (500 mug im, bid) on the fourth day of treatment. Fewer (P<0.05) ovulations per heifer were induced in the Wave 1 group than in the Wave 2 group (4.6+/-1.0 vs 9.1+/-1.3). However, the interval from wave emergence to initiation of treatment was found, in retrospect, to have been longer (P<0.05) in the Wave 1 group, i.e., treatment was initiated relatively later with respect to wave emergence. Experiment 2 was designed to correct this disparity and to initiate the same treatment protocol on the day of wave emergence rather than the day after (n=21 per Wave group). There was no difference between Wave 1 and Wave 2 groups in the interval from wave emergence to initiation of treatment (0.4+/-0.1 d), the number of ovulations detected by ultrasonography (6.6+/-1.0 vs 8.2+/-1.7), the number of CL detected at slaughter (6.5+/-0.9 vs 8.1+/-1.8), the total number of ova embryos recovered (5.2+/-0.7 vs 5.1+/-0.8), or the number of fertilized embryos collected (2.8+/-0.6 vs 3.0+/-0.6). In addition, there was no difference between groups in the proportion of heifers that ovulated in either experiment; collectively, luteolysis and ovulation was induced in 58 of 60 heifers. The results supported the general hypothesis that follicles and oocytes of the first and second follicular waves are equivalent in the response to superstimulatory treatment. Regardless of which follicular wave, initiation of treatment near the time of wave emergence appears critical for maximal superovulatory response. Because of the consistency in the time of emergence of Wave 1 (day of ovulation) and equivalence in superovulatory response, use of Wave 1 rather than subsequent follicular waves may be more convenient and time-sparing in superovulation programs; the day of estrus (day before ovulation) may be used as a consistent point of reference for the start of treatment.     

胃底腺息肉与胃增生性息肉的临床、内镜特征分析

目的:分析胃底腺息肉与胃增生性息肉的临床、内镜下等特点。方法:回顾性搜集胃镜检出的经病理证实的胃底腺息肉和胃增生性息肉393例纳入分析,按年龄、性别、发生部位、大小、幽门螺杆菌(helicobacter pylori)感染状态、是否使用质子泵抑制剂(proton pump inhibitor)等因素进行分析比较。结果:393例增生性息肉与胃底腺息肉中,男178例,女215例,男女比例为1:1.2,年龄28~89岁。随着年龄的增高,胃息肉发生率越高,但各年龄段分布差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。不同部位的增生性息肉与胃底腺性息肉大小相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两种胃息肉的性别分布差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。增生性息肉H.pylori感染率较胃底腺性息肉高(P<0.05),而胃底腺息肉质子泵抑制剂使用率较胃增生性息肉高(P<0.05)。结论:增生性息肉与幽门螺旋杆菌感染有关,胃底腺息肉与质子泵抑制剂使用有关。对胃底腺息肉与胃增生性息肉的临床、内镜特点的分析有助于胃镜检查对胃息肉性质的初步判断,提高诊断的准确性。     

颅内动脉瘤夹闭术、血管内栓塞术治疗颅内动脉瘤的疗效及安全性研究

目的:探讨颅内动脉瘤夹闭术、血管内栓塞术治疗颅内动脉瘤的疗效及安全性。方法:回顾性分析2016年9月-2019年1月接受手术治疗的76例颅内动脉瘤患者的临床资料,根据手术方式的不同分为接受颅内动脉瘤夹闭术治疗的A组40例和接受血管内栓塞术治疗的B组36例。对比两组患者的动脉瘤完全闭合率、住院费用及血清炎性因子[C反应蛋白(CRP)、白介素-1β(IL-1β)、白介素-6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)]、脑氧饱和度水平及日常生活能力量表(ADL)评分值,记录并发症发生情况。结果:两组患者的动脉瘤完全闭合率比较差异无统计学意义(x~2=0.515,P=0.473)。A组患者的住院费用低于B组患者(t=17.732,P=0.000);A组患者术后血清中CRP、IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α的水平高于B组(t=10.580、12.904、9.355、19.176,P均=0.000);A组患者术后脑氧饱和度水平低于B组(t=2.113,P=0.019),两组ADL评分值的差异无统计学意义(t=1.211,P=0.115);A组术中再破裂、脑血管痉挛发生率高于B组患者(x~2=4.817、5.383,P=0.028、0.020)。结论:颅内动脉瘤夹闭术应用于颅内动脉瘤患者,动脉瘤完全闭合率与血管内栓塞术无明显差异,住院费用更低,但对目标血管的刺激较大,可能存在术中再破裂、脑血管痉挛等风险。     

Measurement,model prediction and uncertainty quantification of plasma clearance of cerium citrate in humans

Radiation and Environmental Biophysics - Double tracer studies in healthy human volunteers with stable isotopes of cerium citrate were performed with the aim of investigating the gastro-intestinal...