Intestinal Helminthic Infections Diagnosed by Colonoscopy in a Regional Hospital during 2001-2008

The present study investigated characteristics of 24 parasite infection cases detected during colonoscopy in a regional hospital from January 2001 to December 2008. Sixteen patients were confirmed with Trichuris trichiura infection, 6 patients were with Ascaris lumbricoides infection, 1 patient with Enterobius vermicularis infection, and 1 patient with Anisakis infection. Among them, 7 patients (43.8%) were asymptomatic. Colonoscopy findings were normal in 18 patients (75.0%). Among the patients with T. trichiura infection, colonoscopy showed several erosions in 2 patients (8.3%) and non-specific inflammation of the affected segment of the colon in 3 patients (12.5%). In 1 patient with anisakiasis, colonoscopy revealed a markedly swollen colonic wall. Stool examinations were performed before treatment in 7 patients (29.2%) and were all negative for parasite eggs or worms. These results suggest that colonoscopy is a useful diagnostic approach for parasitic infections even for asymptomatic patients and for patients with negative stool examinations.     

Modulation of nonselective cation current by oxidized LDL and lysophosphatidylcholine and its inhibitory contribution to endothelial damage

AimsThis study examined the effects of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and its major lipid constituent lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) on nonselective cation (NSC) current and its inhibitory contribution to LPC-induced cytotoxicity in cultured human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs).Main methodsPatch-clamp technique and the resazurin-based cell viability assay were used.Key findingsIn voltage-clamped cells, oxidized LDL or LPC slowly activated NSC current. NSC current was also activated by loading cells with Ca²⁺ solution buffered at various concentrations using a patch pipette or by applying the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ pump blocker 2,5-di-t-butyl-1,4-benzohydroquinone (BHQ), the metabolic inhibitor CN^? or the hydroperoxide donor tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). On the contrary, when intracellular Ca²⁺ was strongly buffered with 12 mM BAPTA or cells were loaded with superoxide dismutase using a patch pipette, LPC or BHQ did not activate NSC current. Furthermore, NSC current activated by LPC, TBHP or CN^? was inhibited by the antioxidant tempol or extracellular Ca²⁺ depletion and NSC current activated by intracellular Ca²⁺ was further augmented by oxidized LDL or LPC. LPC or oxidized LDL released Ca²⁺ from intracellular stores and further enhanced store-operated Ca²⁺ entry. LPC-induced cytotoxicity was augmented by inhibiting Ca²⁺ influx and NO synthesis.SignificanceOxidized LDL or its main component LPC activated Ca²⁺-permeable NSC current via releasing Ca²⁺ from intracellular stores and producing ROS and thereby increased Ca²⁺ influx. Ca²⁺ influx through NSC channel might protect endothelial cells by producing NO.     

Metabolic classification of South American Ilex species by NMR-based metabolomics

The genus Ilex to which mate (Ilex paraguariensis) belongs, consists of more than 500 species. A wide range of metabolites including saponins and phenylpropanoids has been reported from Ilex species. However, despite the previous works on the Ilex metabolites, the metabolic similarities between species which can be used for chemotaxonomy of the species are not clear yet. In this study, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy-based metabolomics was applied to the classification of 11 South American Ilex species, namely, Ilex argentina, Ilex brasiliensis, Ilex brevicuspis, Ilex dumosa var. dumosa, I. dumosa var. guaranina, Ilex integerrima, Ilex microdonta, I. paraguariensis var. paraguariensis, Ilex pseudobuxus, Ilex taubertiana, and Ilex theezans. ¹H NMR combined with principal component analysis (PCA), partial least square-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) showed a clear separation between species and resulted in four groups based on metabolomic similarities. The signal congestion of ¹H NMR spectra was overcome by the implementation of two-dimensional (2D)-J-resolved and heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC). From the results obtained by 1D- and 2D-NMR-based metabolomics it was concluded that species included in group A (I. paraguariensis) were metabolically characterized by a higher amount of xanthines, and phenolics including phenylpropanoids and flavonoids; group B (I. dumosa var. dumosa and I. dumosa var. guaranina) with oleanane type saponins; group C (I. brasiliensis, I. integerrima, I. pseudobuxus and I. theezans) with arbutin and dicaffeoylquinic acids, and group D (I. argentina, I. brevicuspis, I. microdonta and I. taubertiana) with the highest level of ursane-type saponins. Clear metabolomic discrimination of Ilex species and varieties in this study makes the chemotaxonomic classification of Ilex species possible.     

Production of functionalized polyhydroxyalkanoates by genetically modified <Emphasis Type="Italic">Methylobacterium extorquens</Emphasis> strains

Background  

Methylotrophic (methanol-utilizing) bacteria offer great potential as cell factories in the production of numerous products from biomass-derived methanol. Bio-methanol is essentially a non-food substrate, an advantage over sugar-utilizing cell factories. Low-value products as well as fine chemicals and advanced materials are envisageable from methanol. For example, several methylotrophic bacteria, including Methylobacterium extorquens, can produce large quantities of the biodegradable polyester polyhydroxybutyric acid (PHB), the best known polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). With the purpose of producing second-generation PHAs with increased value, we have explored the feasibility of using M. extorquens for producing functionalized PHAs containing C-C double bonds, thus, making them amenable to future chemical/biochemical modifications for high value applications.     

Peptidyl arginine deiminase type IV (<Emphasis Type="Italic">PADI4</Emphasis>) haplotypes interact with shared epitope regardless of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody or erosive joint status in rheumatoid arthritis: a case control study

Introduction  

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide autoantibodies (anti-CCP) are the most specific serologic marker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Genetic polymorphisms in a citrullinating (or deiminating) enzyme, peptidyl arginine deiminase type IV (PADI4) have been reproducibly associated with RA susceptibility in several populations. We investigated whether PADI4 polymorphisms contribute to anti-CCP-negative as well as -positive RA, whether they influence disease severity (erosive joint status), and whether they interact with two major risk factors for RA, Human Leukocyte Antigen-DRB1 (HLA-DRB1) shared epitope (SE) alleles and smoking, depending on anti-CCP and erosive joint status.     

鼎湖血桐种群生物学及遗传多样性初步研究

采用点格局分析、径级结构分析以及微卫星筛选等方法,对鼎湖山保护区20hm2永久样地中的鼎湖血桐进行了种群生物学及遗传多样性研究。结果表明:鼎湖血桐是一种r-对策型阳生植物,种群年龄结构呈金字塔型;植株受光照不足的胁迫,种群大部分个体聚集分布于光照充足的林窗中;通过磁珠富集法筛选出鼎湖血桐特异性微卫星引物13对,其中2对具备多态性,多态百分率为15.4%,多态信息含量在0～0.3734之间,平均期望杂合度为0.0756,远低于同属其它植物。研究表明鼎湖血桐对环境变化的适应范围较窄,遗传多样性较低,应对其种质资源进行多样性评估与保护。     

中国蜘蛛抱蛋属一新记录种——合瓣蜘蛛抱蛋

首次报道中国蜘蛛抱蛋属一新记录种——合瓣蜘蛛抱蛋Aspidistra connata H.-J.Tillich,该种与辐花蜘蛛抱蛋A.subrotata Y.Wanet C.C.Huang相似,但叶片长椭圆形至长卵状椭圆形,花被顶端8～10裂,裂片线形,顶端联合不分开,形成一个笼状包围着雌蕊可与后者区别。凭证标本存放于广西植物标本馆(IBK)。     

表达血管内皮生长因子-siRNA及双自杀基因yCDglyTK的联合基因载体构建及其应用研究

构建了新型联合基因载体pcDNA3.1(-)VEGF-siRNA/yCDglyTK,研究其在人胃癌细胞系SGC7901细胞中的表达和杀伤作用.构建靶向血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)的干扰质粒pGenesil-VEGF-siRNA,采用PCR法从中扩增siRNA表达框(含U6启动子),亚克隆至双自杀基因载体pcDNA3.1(-)CV-yCDglyTK,构建联合基因质粒pcDNA3.1(-)VEGF-siRNA/yCDglyTK;通过酶切、测序等鉴定重组质粒;以磷酸钙纳米颗粒为载体,将干扰质粒、双自杀基因质粒及联合基因质粒转染SGC7901细胞,RT-PCR、Western-blot验证目的基因表达;MTT法检测转染细胞对5-氟胞嘧啶(5-FC)的敏感性.结果表明:酶切及测序证实联合基因载体pcDNA3.1(-)VEGF-siRNA/yCDglyTK构建成功;SGC7901细胞转染联合基因质粒后,RT-PCR、Western-blot证实融合自杀基因表达,而VEGF基因表达下调;在前体药物5-FC作用下,转染联合基因组细胞存活率最低,与其他组比较有统计学差异.成功构建联合基因载体pcDNA3.1(-)VEGF-si...     

生态护理对山地桔园节肢动物群落结构及多样性的影响

采用扫网、目测和手捕的方法,调查了山地桔园生态护理区和常规管理区节肢动物种群结构和多样性,获得生态护理区节肢动物2851只,隶属于2纲11目60科143种,常规管理区节肢动物2311只,隶属于2纲11目50科99种。生态护理区捕食性、寄生性和中性类亚群落节肢动物的种类增加了123.9%～168%,数量增加了83.5%～330.7%;捕食性、寄生性和中性类亚群落优势种群增多,而植食性亚群落相对减少;3—10月各亚群落消长动态相对平稳,害虫优势种柑桔红蜘蛛和桔蚜种群数量一直低于常规管理区,柑桔粉虱则相反;除植食性外,各亚群落的相对丰富度均大于常规管理区、优势集中度均小于常规管理区;总群落、捕食性、中性和植食性亚群落的Shannon指数分别比常规管理区高,而寄生性亚群落则低0.56,Hill多样性指数N1、N2与Shannon指数趋势相似;总群落、中性和植食性亚群落的均匀度指数高0.01～0.21,捕食性和寄生性的低0.03～0.04。因此,生态护理对增加桔园节肢动物种群结构和多样性效果明显,对害虫的持续控制和柑桔安全生产具有实际意义。