嗜麦芽黄单胞菌游离细胞催化合成α-熊果苷

研究了利用嗜麦芽黄单胞菌BT-112(Xanthomonas maltophilia BT-112)游离细胞生物催化合成α-熊果苷,系统探讨了温度、对苯二酚浓度、对苯二酚与蔗糖摩尔比、反应时间、转速、细胞浓度、磷酸缓冲溶液pH值和浓度对反应转化率的影响。最佳反应条件为:反应温度为25℃,菌体对对苯二酚的最大耐受度为30mmol/L,蔗糖和对苯二酚的摩尔比为20∶1,反应时间为45h,摇床转速为160r/min,细胞浓度为85g/L,磷酸缓冲溶液浓度为25mmol/L、pH值为8.0。在此条件下α-熊果苷转化率高达86.7%(以对苯二酚计算)。     

Pleomorphic extra-renal manifestation of the glomerular podocyte marker podocalyxin in tissues of normal beagle dogs

Podocalyxin (PC) was initially identified as a major sialoprotein on the apical surface of glomerular podocytes to perform the filtration barrier function. Later, it was reported to be expressed in endothelial cells, megakaryotes/platelets, and hemangioblasts, the common progenitor cells of the hematopoietic and endothelial cells. Recently, increasing numbers of reports have indicated that PC is not merely a molecule restricted at renal glomerulus, angiogenic or hematopoietic system. To further elucidate the expression pattern and address the possible physiological role of PC in adult mammals, we conducted an extensive study by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining on various tissues of healthy adult beagle dogs. By combinatory usage of two different anti-podocalyxin antibodies recognizing distinct epitopes in PC, we have demonstrated that (1) PC is expressed in renal tubules, mesothelium, myocardium, striated muscles in tongue, esophagus and extraocular region, myoepithelial cells in esophagus and salivary glands, neurons, and ependyma, etc.; (2) there are at least three forms of PC proteins, depending upon the accessibility of two different PC antibodies, expressed in different organs/systems; and (3) a particular form of PC is distributed in a vesicle-like compartment in certain organs/systems, such as the central nervous system. Electronic Supplementary Material The online version of this article () contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

纳米材料生物效应研究进展

随着纳米技术的快速发展,纳米材料在医学成像、疾病诊断、药物传输、癌症治疗、基因治疗等领域的应用和基础研究也在飞速发展.同时,纳米材料的这些有益应用使得人体通过吸入、经口、皮肤吸收和静脉注射等不同方式受到暴露.当纳米材料与生物体系发生相互作用时,有可能产生负面生物学效应,而这些潜在的毒理效应都是未知的.综述了纳米材料在生物医学领域巨大的应用前景,关注其对心血管系统、呼吸系统及转运到其他器官可能造成的负面效应,并探讨了纳米颗粒在引起心血管疾病及肺部炎症方面的可能机理与作用途径.最后对纳米材料的安全性评估和研究重点进行了总结.     

对虾PjCaspase基因启动子的克隆及其特征的初步分析

对虾是最重要的海水养殖产品之一,但是自从20世纪90年代以来,一直受到病害的严重威胁,尤其是对虾白斑综合症病毒(White spot syndrome virus,WSSV),已成为危害对虾养殖的最主要病原[1]。但因对虾等海洋无脊椎动物的免疫系统不完善,无法用疫苗进行免疫防治[2],至今尚无有效的防治药物,因此滥用违禁药物现象普遍,严重影响对虾的品质。     

重复经颅磁刺激对卒中后抑郁的治疗效果及机制

卒中后抑郁（post-stroke depression,PSD）是并发于脑血管病的一种情感障碍疾病,发病率高,预后差。重复经颅磁刺激（repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation,r TMS）是通过磁场变化在大脑中产生感应电流来刺激皮层的非创伤性脑刺激技术,是临床上治疗PSD的一种重要非药物治疗方法,可以显著改善PSD患者的抑郁症状。但目前rTMS的作用机制不明确。本文总结了PSD治疗中有效的rTMS刺激方案,并结合PSD的单胺类神经递质相关致病假说及PSD的临床治疗手段,探索了rTMS通过对单胺类神经递质的调控参与PSD治疗的可能机制。rTMS刺激诱导的皮层单胺类递质释放增加、葡萄糖代谢上升、皮层兴奋性增加,提高了单胺类神经递质和脑源性神经营养因子（brain-derived neurotrophic factor,BDNF）水平,进而引发前额叶抑制功能上升、与下游脑区连接改变、脑网络功能的调整,可能是rTMS治疗PSD的重要机制之一。     

金纳米棒的表面修饰及其应用于肿瘤诊疗的研究进展

金纳米棒具有独特的光学性质、表面易修饰性、较低的生物毒性和良好的生物相容性,因而在成像、光热治疗和药物载带等方面具有极高的潜在应用价值.本文综述了典型的金纳米棒表面修饰方法及其在生物成像、光热治疗和药物治疗中的应用,重点阐述了通过金纳米棒同时实现肿瘤诊断和治疗相结合的研究进展.     

Factors from Human Embryonic Stem Cell-derived Fibroblast-like Cells Promote Topology-dependent Hepatic Differentiation in Primate Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The future clinical use of embryonic stem cell (ESC)-based hepatocyte replacement therapy depends on the development of an efficient procedure for differentiation of hepatocytes from ESCs. Here we report that a high density of human ESC-derived fibroblast-like cells (hESdFs) supported the efficient generation of hepatocyte-like cells with functional and mature hepatic phenotypes from primate ESCs and human induced pluripotent stem cells. Molecular and immunocytochemistry analyses revealed that hESdFs caused a rapid loss of pluripotency and induced a sequential endoderm-to-hepatocyte differentiation in the central area of ESC colonies. Knockdown experiments demonstrated that pluripotent stem cells were directed toward endodermal and hepatic lineages by FGF2 and activin A secreted from hESdFs. Furthermore, we found that the central region of ESC colonies was essential for the hepatic endoderm-specific differentiation, because its removal caused a complete disruption of endodermal differentiation. In conclusion, we describe a novel in vitro differentiation model and show that hESdF-secreted factors act in concert with regional features of ESC colonies to induce robust hepatic endoderm differentiation in primate pluripotent stem cells.     

Elevated Serum Triglyceride and Retinol-Binding Protein 4 Levels Associated with Fructose-Sweetened Beverages in Adolescents

Background

The metabolic effect of fructose in sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) has been linked to de novo lipogenesis and uric acid (UA) production.

Objectives

This study investigated the biological effects of SSB consumption on serum lipid profiles and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) among Taiwanese adolescents.

Methods

We evaluated the anthropometric parameters and biochemical outcomes of 200 representative adolescents (98 boys and 102 girls) who were randomly selected from a large-scale cross-sectional study. Data were analyzed using multiple regression models adjusted for covariates.

Results

Increased SSB consumption was associated with increased waist and hip circumferences, body mass index (BMI) values and serum UA, triglyceride (TG) and RBP4 levels. Adolescents who consumed >500 ml/day of beverages half-to-heavily sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) exhibited TG and RBP4 levels 22.7 mg/dl and 13.92 ng/ml higher than non-drinkers, respectively. HFCS drinkers with hyperuricemia had higher TG levels than HFCS drinkers with normal UA levels (98.6 vs. 81.6 mg/dl). The intake of HFCS-rich SSBs and high value of BMI (≥24) interactively reinforced RBP4 levels among overweight/obese adolescents. Circulating RBP4 levels were significantly correlated with weight-related outcomes and TG and UA concentration among HFCS drinkers (r = 0.253 to 0.404), but not among non-drinkers.

Conclusions

High-quantity HFCS-rich beverage consumption is associated with higher TG and RBP4 levels. Hyperuricemia is likely to intensify the influence of HFCS-rich SSB intake on elevated TG levels, and in overweight and obese adolescents, high BMI may modify the action of fructose on higher circulating levels of RBP4.     

Enhanced extraction genistein from pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] roots with the biotransformation of immobilized edible Aspergillus oryzae and Monacus anka and antioxidant activity evaluation

A new method of enhanced extraction genistein from pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] roots with the biotransformation of immobilized edible Aspergillus oryzae and Monacus anka, was investigated. It showed that immobilized Aspergillus oryzae and Monacus anka on sodium alginate effectively supported the highest genistein extraction yield by screening microorganism tests. After biotransformation process with immobilized Aspergillus oryzae and Monacus anka under 30 °C, pH 6.0, 2 days, liquid-solid ratio 12: 1 (mL/g), the extraction yield of genistein reached 1.877 mg/g, which was 2.65-fold to that of normal extraction yield. Moreover, IC₅₀ values of the extracts measured by DPPH-radical scavenging test and β-Carotene-linoleic acid bleaching test were 0.737 mg/mL and 0.173 mg/mL (control sample 1.117 mg/mL and 0.216 mg/mL), respectively. SOD (Super Oxygen Dehydrogenises) activity of the extracts treated with immobilized microorganism which was stronger than that of the untreated pigon pea roots (1.44 U/mg) at the concentration of protein (0.9375 μg/mL) was 1.83 U/mg. The developed method could be an alternative method for the enhanced extraction of genistein from plants and could be potentially applied in the food industry