Activation of estrogen receptor-beta by a special extract of Rheum rhaponticum (ERr 731), its aglycones and structurally related compounds

The special extract ERr 731^® from the roots of Rheum rhaponticum is the major constituent of Phytoestrol^® N which is used for the treatment of climacteric symptoms in menopausal women. However, the molecular mode of action of ERr 731^® was unknown. For the first time, ERr 731^® and its aglycones trans-rhapontigenin and desoxyrhapontigenin were investigated with regard to the activation of the estrogen receptor- or estrogen receptor-β (ER, ERβ). The related hydroxystilbenes cis-rhapontigenin, resveratrol and piceatannol were studied as comparators. As controls, 17β-estradiol or the selective ER-(propylpyrazoltriol) or ERβ-agonists (diarylpropionitril) were used. Neither in ER-expressing yeast cells, in the ER-responsive Ishikawa cells, nor in human endometrial HEC-1B cells transiently transfected with the ER an activation of ER by ERr 731^® or the other single compounds was detected. Furthermore, an antiestrogenic effect was not observed. In contrast in human endometrial HEC-1B cells transiently transfected with the ERβ, 100 ng/ml ERr 731^® and the single compounds significantly induced the ERβ-coupled luciferase activity in a range comparable to 10⁻⁸ M 17β-estradiol. All effects were abolished with the pure ER antagonist ICI 182780, indicating an ER-specific effect. The ERβ agonistic activity by ERr 731^® could be of importance for its clinical use, as central functions relevant to climacteric complaints are proposed to be mediated via ERβ activation.     

进展期胃癌p53表达与微血管密度及生物学行为的关系

目的探讨进展期胃癌生长过程中p53基因表达与微血管密度和生物学行为之间的关系。方法搜集有随访资料的胃癌标本107例,用免疫组化对突变型p53和CD34作了标记,用原位杂交对野生型p53作了检测。结果突变型p53在肿瘤不同侵犯深度、不同生长方式、不同淋巴结转移状态以及预后方面,存在显著差异(P<0.05),突变型p53与微血管密度显著相关(P<0.05),而野生型p53则与突变型p53相反。结论突变型和野生型p53在肿瘤生长过程中的表达不同,说明p53的不同功能状态在肿瘤的发展过程中发挥重要作用。     

Pollen from tree and shrub taxa in the atmosphere of Caxias do Sul (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil)

An aerobiological study has been carried out in the region of Caxias do Sul in southern Brazil. Pollen monitoring was performed from January 1, 2001 through to December 31, 2002. A total of 30,469 pollen grains were collected during this period, and 40 pollen types were identified; of these, 23,389 pollen grains, representing 29 pollen types, originated from tree and shrub taxa. The maximum pollen concentration was registered in August 2001 and October 2002. In the study area, the pollen type Mimosa scabrella (18.8%) was much more abundant than all of the pollen types from tree and shrub taxa, such as: Urticaceae (18.4%), Myrtaceae (10.2%), Cupressaceae (7.7%), Myrsine (4.8%), Sorocea (3.9%), Pinaceae (2.9%), Asteraceae (2.2%) and Ricinus (2.1%). These nine pollen types accounted for the largest pollen concentrations of all the tree and shrub taxa. The pollen types Carya, Melastomataceae, Mimosa scabrella, Myrsine and Sorocea are reported for the first time in an aerobiological study in Brazil.     

Lignocellulosic residues: Biodegradation and bioconversion by fungi

The ability of fungi to degrade lignocellulosic materials is due to their highly efficient enzymatic system. Fungi have two types of extracellular enzymatic systems; the hydrolytic system, which produces hydrolases that are responsible for polysaccharide degradation and a unique oxidative and extracellular ligninolytic system, which degrades lignin and opens phenyl rings. Lignocellulosic residues from wood, grass, agricultural, forestry wastes and municipal solid wastes are particularly abundant in nature and have a potential for bioconversion. Accumulation of lignocellulosic materials in large quantities in places where agricultural residues present a disposal problem results not only in deterioration of the environment but also in loss of potentially valuable material that can be used in paper manufacture, biomass fuel production, composting, human and animal feed among others. Several novel markets for lignocellulosic residues have been identified recently. The use of fungi in low cost bioremediation projects might be attractive given their lignocellulose hydrolysis enzyme machinery.     

西藏21种真菌的血凝活性测定

选用了21种野生真菌,分别以PBS(磷酸缓冲液)浸提,浸提液进行兔红血球血凝活性测定,结果显示:冬虫夏草(Cordyceps sinensis)、蜜环菌(Armillariella mellea)、翘鳞肉齿菌(Sarcodon imbricatus)等不能使兔红血球凝集,显阴性;其余真菌均能使兔红血球凝集,其中以棱柄白马鞍菌(Helvella crispa)和美味牛肝菌(Boletus edulis)效价最高26;盘状马鞍菌(Helvella pezizoids)次之25;其余的均为20～23.取PBS浸提效价较高的6种样品棱柄白马鞍菌、盘状马鞍菌、真姬离褶伞(Lyophyllum shimeji)、红菇腊伞(Hygrophorus russula)、美味牛肝菌、离褶伞(Lyophyllum)等分别用Tris、NaAcetate(乙酸钠)、Glycin(甘氨酸)等不同pH缓冲液浸提,浸提液进行兔红血球血凝活性测定,结果显示:显弱酸性或弱碱性的缓冲液浸提时,浸提液对兔红血球血凝活性效价高于中性缓冲液,浸提真菌样品时最好使用弱酸或弱碱性缓冲液.     

Combined Use of Systematic Conservation Planning,Species Distribution Modelling,and Connectivity Analysis Reveals Severe Conservation Gaps in a Megadiverse Country (Peru)

Conservation planning is crucial for megadiverse countries where biodiversity is coupled with incomplete reserve systems and limited resources to invest in conservation. Using Peru as an example of a megadiverse country, we asked whether the national system of protected areas satisfies biodiversity conservation needs. Further, to complement the existing reserve system, we identified and prioritized potential conservation areas using a combination of species distribution modeling, conservation planning and connectivity analysis. Based on a set of 2,869 species, including mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, butterflies, and plants, we used species distribution models to represent species'' geographic ranges to reduce the effect of biased sampling and partial knowledge about species'' distributions. A site-selection algorithm then searched for efficient and complementary proposals, based on the above distributions, for a more representative system of protection. Finally, we incorporated connectivity among areas in an innovative post-hoc analysis to prioritize those areas maximizing connectivity within the system. Our results highlight severe conservation gaps in the Coastal and Andean regions, and we propose several areas, which are not currently covered by the existing network of protected areas. Our approach helps to find areas that contribute to creating a more representative, connected and efficient network.     

罗布泊地区第四纪环境演化

新疆罗后干涸湖盆中的Ｋ１钻孔揭示,１００、２ｍ的沉积剖面共有９２个宙积层,划归１６同积旋回,包括了早更新世以来的各时期沉积。据划分的１５个孢粉组这及古地磁、１４＾Ｃ、岩石地层资料综合分析,早更新世该区曾发育森林－草原植被,早更民末,强烈的构造运动保留我下更充变形,上覆的中更统与下更新统间呈不整合接触。中更新世,荒漠和荒漠草原交替出现,地层中有大量膏质泥岩和石膏。晚更新世以来,在干旱气候的控制之下,     

The Dark Recovery Rate in the Photocycle of the Bacterial Photoreceptor YtvA Is Affected by the Cellular Environment and by Hydration

We report thermal recovery kinetics of the lit state into the parental dark state, measured for the blue light-sensing photoreceptor YtvA inside overexpressing E. coli and B. subtilis bacterial cells, performed for the wild type and several mutated proteins. Recovery was followed as a recovery of the fluorescence, as this property is only found for the parental but not for the photochemically generated lit state. When cells were deposited onto a microscope glass plate, the observed thermal recovery rate in the photocycle was found ca. ten times faster in comparison to purified YtvA in solution. When the E. coli or B. subtilis colonies were soaked in an isotonic buffer, the dark relaxation became again much slower and was very similar to that observed for YtvA in solution. The observed effects show that rate constants can be tuned by the cellular environment through factors such as hydration.     

The Stenopodainae (Hemiptera,Heteroptera) of Argentina

In Argentina, 10 genera and 33 species of Stenopodainae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) have been recorded. Diagnoses of the genera, subgenera and species are given, and an illustrated key to genera is provided. Six species are new records for Argentina and an additional seven species represent new records for provinces.     

Interrelatedness of 5S RNA sequences investigated by correspondence analysis

Summary Correspondence analysis (a form of multivariate statistics) applied to 74 5S ribosomal RNA sequences indicates that the sequences are interrelated in a systematic, nonrandom fashion. Aligned sequences are represented as vectors in a 5N-dimensional space, where N is the number of base positions in the 5S RNA molecule. Mutually orthogonal directions (called factor axes) along which intersequence variance is greatest are defined in this hyperspace. Projection of the sequences onto planes defined by these factorial directions reveals clustering of species that is suggestive of phylogenetic relationships. For each factorial direction, correspondence analysis points to regions of importance, i.e., those base positions at which the systematic changes occur that define that particular direction. In effect, the technique provides a rapid determination of group-specific signatures. In several instances, similarities between sequences are indicated that have only recently been inferred from visual base-to-base comparisons. These results suggest that correspondence analysis may provide a valuable starting point from which to uncover the patterns of change underlying the evolution of a macromolecule, such as 5S RNA.