Resveratrol protects against isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats through VEGF-B/AMPK/eNOS/NO signalling pathway

According to our previous results, resveratrol (RSV, 3, 5, 4-trihydroxystilbene), a naturally polyphenolic phytoalexin, could attenuate myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury through up-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGF-B) in isolated rat heart or H9c2 cells. However, the molecular mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of RSV on myocardial infarction (MI) in rats and further explored the underlying signal pathway after VEGF-B. Rats received RSV or normal saline by intragastric administration for 7 consecutive days and followed by subcutaneously isoproterenol (ISO) or normal saline injections for another 2 days. We found that RSV pretreatment prevented the unfavourable changes in HW/BW, HW/TL, infarct size, and cell apoptosis in ISO-treated rats. Moreover, superoxide and malondialdehyde (MDA) production were significantly reduced and superoxide dismutase (SOD) was increased by RSV in ISO-treated rats. Furthermore, it showed that RSV pretreatment increased VEGF-B, p-eNOS and p-AMPK expression, and NO production in ISO-treated rats. Using Neonatal Rat Ventricular Myocytes (NRVM), we found that VEGF-B siRNA could abolish the cardio-protective effect of RSV. The enhanced ratios of eNOS phosphorylation to eNOS expression induced by RSV were markedly reversed by VEGF-B siRNA in NRVM also. Meantime, we found that the effect of VEGF-B knock-down on eNOS activation was rescued by AMPK activator AICAR. L-NAME, a NOS inhibitor, could inhibit RSV enhanced eNOS phosphorylation but had no effect on VEGF-B expression in NRVM or in rats. Collectively, our results indicate that RSV exerts cardio-protection from ISO-induced myocardial infarction through VEGF-B/AMPK/eNOS/NO signalling pathway.     

Protective effects of cynaroside on oxidative stress in retinal pigment epithelial cells

Cynaroside is a flavonoid compound proved to possess antioxidant activity, but its protective effect on age‐related macular degeneration still remains unclear. In this study, the protective effects of cynaroside on oxidative stress and apoptosis in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) were investigated. Results showed that cynaroside effectively attenuated the decrease of cell activity induced by H₂O₂. The total reactive oxygen species can be remitted by decreasing malondialdehyde level, as well as increasing glutathione level, and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. In addition, Western blot analysis indicated that cynaroside protected ARPE‐19 cells from apoptosis through downregulation of caspase‐3 protein activation which was controlled by the upstream proteins Bcl‐2 and Bax. It was finally proved that cynaroside could enhance the antioxidant and antiapoptotic ability in ARPE‐19 cells by promoting the expression of p‐Akt.     

Effects of LPS on the accumulation of lipid droplets,proliferation, and steroidogenesis in goat luteinized granulosa cells

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can cause ovarian dysfunction and infertility in mammals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of LPS on the accumulation of lipid droplets (LDs), proliferation, and steroidogenesis in goat luteinized granulosa cells (LGCs). GCs isolated from the ovarian follicles were spontaneously luteinized under media with fetal bovine serum, resulting in increased progesterone and shifted shape from spherical to star with multiple prolongations. Then, LGCs were treated with LPS (0‐10 μg/mL) for 0‐48 hours. Oil Red O staining was performed to observe LDs accumulation and commercial kit was applied to detect intracellular triglyceride (TG) content. The cell proliferation were detected by cell counting kit‐8. Expressions of cell‐cycle–related genes were determined by real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Estradiol (E ₂) and progesterone (P ₄) from cell supernatants were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and expressions of STAR, P450scc, 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β‐HSD) and CYP19A1 were detected by Western blot. Results showed that LPS treatment significantly increased LDs accumulation after 24 hours, and 5 μg/mL LPS increased TG content ( P < 0.05). LPS treatment for 24 hours stimulated the LGCs activities ( P<0.05), which was confirmed by the increases in the expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclinB1 and cyclinD1, while 48 hours treatment had no effect. LPS treatment suppressed E ₂ and P ₄ output of LGCs ( P < 0.05). Western blot results showed that 10 μg/mL LPS decreased the protein expression of 3β‐HSD in LGCs ( P < 0.05). In conclusion, LPS increased LDs accumulation and cell proliferation, and LPS‐mediated P ₄ reduction could be attributed to the decreased 3β‐HSD protein expression, which provide new information for the regulation of ovarian function in goats.     

Contrasting forms of competition set elevational range limits of species

How abiotic and biotic factors constrain distribution limits at the harsh and benign edges of species ranges is hotly debated, partly because macroecological experiments testing the proximate causes of distribution limits are scarce. It has long been recognized – at least since Darwin’s On the Origin of Species – that a harsh climate strengthens competition and thus sets species range limits. Using thorough field manipulations along a large elevation gradient, we show the mechanisms by which temperature determines competition type, resulting in a transition from interference to exploitative competition from the lower to the upper elevation limits in burying beetles (Nicrophorus nepalensis). This transition is an example of Darwin’s classic hypothesis that benign climates favor direct competition for highly accessible resources while harsh climates result in competition through resources of high rivalry. We propose that identifying the properties of these key resources will provide a more predictive framework to understand the interplay between biotic and abiotic factors in determining geographic range limits.     

Gut microbiota in patients after surgical treatment for colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common disease worldwide that is strongly associated with the gut microbiota. However, little is known regarding the gut microbiota after surgical treatment. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to evaluate differences in gut microbiota among colorectal adenoma patients, CRC patients, CRC postoperative patients and healthy controls by comparing gut microbiota diversity, overall composition and taxonomic signature abundance. The gut microbiota of CRC patients, adenoma patients and healthy controls developed in accordance with the adenoma-carcinoma sequence, with impressive shifts in the gut microbiota before or during the development of CRC. The gut microbiota of postoperative patients and CRC patients differed significantly. Subdividing CRC postoperative patients according to the presence or absence of newly developed adenoma which based on the colonoscopy findings revealed that the gut microbiota of newly developed adenoma patients differed significantly from that of clean intestine patients and was more similar to the gut microbiota of carcinoma patients than to the gut microbiota of healthy controls. The alterations of the gut microbiota between the two groups of postoperative patients corresponded to CRC prognosis. More importantly, we used the different gut microbiota as biomarkers to distinguish postoperative patients with or without newly developed adenoma, achieving an AUC value of 0.72. These insights on the changes in the gut microbiota of CRC patients after surgical treatment may allow the use of the microbiota as non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis of newly developed adenomas and to help prevent cancer recurrence in postoperative patients.     

西藏唐北地区湖泊动态及空间格局预测

本研究评估了西藏唐古拉山以北地区(唐北地区)湖泊动态并预测了湖泊空间格局变化.使用面向对象分类和光谱角向量变化检测方法生成了2000-2015年西藏唐北地区每5年一期的生态系统分布数据.以此为基础,分析了湖泊与其他生态系统之间的转换和空间格局特征,评估了湖泊空间格局的动态及其与相关自然地理因素的关系.通过增强回归树识别了不同因素对湖泊动态的贡献,使用GEOMOD模型预测了湖泊到2030年的空间变化.结果表明:唐北地区在2000-2015年间湖泊增加了14.2%,是唐北地区生态系统变化的主要形式之一.区域内15个面积大于10 km2的湖泊有10个增加,另有5个减少,且缩减量较低.通过空间格局分析发现,唐北地区湖泊斑块表现为面积和数量同时增加,大斑块面积比重略有上升.扩张幅度高的湖泊多分布于海拔高、坡度大、温度低、降水少、距离冰川近的区域.位于现有湖泊周边、温度低、降水少、坡度小的区域转变为湖泊的几率较高.根据过去15年的趋势,到2030年,唐北地区湖泊将继续增加119 km2,主要变化形式从大湖扩张转变为小型水面扩张.     

我国稻田氮磷流失现状及影响因素研究进展

水稻是我国主要的粮食作物,分析现阶段我国稻田氮磷流失现状及影响因素,对明确不同区域水稻化肥减施潜力具有重要意义.本研究对我国主要稻区地表径流氮磷流失现状特征和降雨、种植模式、栽培技术、施肥管理、水分管理方式及其他影响因素进行了总结.六大稻区全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)径流损失量范围分别在5.09～21.32和0.70～3.22 kg·hm^-2,均以华南双季稻区最高,TN径流损失量以华北单季稻区最低,TP径流损失量以西南高原单双季稻区最低.各稻区农户习惯施肥的水稻田田面水TN、TP峰值普遍高于径流水.水稻施肥后一周内为氮磷流失高峰期.与优化施肥相比,农户习惯施肥仍具有20%左右的氮磷减施潜力.各因素中,降雨和施肥管理是影响稻田径流氮磷流失的主要因素,而施肥管理和水分管理则最具可控性,具体调控措施包括化肥减量、施用新型肥料、有机肥代替化肥和节水灌溉等.整体上我国稻田氮磷流失风险在南方更突出.应以资源高效利用模式进行水稻种植以降低养分流失风险.未来研究应侧重稻田面源污染监测、氮磷流失风险评估、氮磷流失特征和机理、化肥减施增效新技术等方向.     

MicroRNA-21与平滑肌蛋白22α在哈萨克族食管癌组织中的表达及其临床病理学意义

目的探讨microRNA21与SM22a基因在哈萨克族食管癌发生发展中的作用及临床意义。方法免疫组织化学法检测162例石蜡包埋食管鳞状细胞癌组织及RT-PCR方法检测47例哈萨克族食管癌标本中microRNA21、SM22a表达水平,分析这些基因与临床病理特征的关系。结果SM22a在162例食管鳞癌组织中的阳性表达率(87.0%)显著高于食管正常黏膜组织(36.0%);在47例哈萨克族食管癌组织中,SM22a表达水平较远端无癌组织增高。与远端无癌组织相比,microRNA21在哈萨克族食管癌组织中表达水平增高。MicroRNA21高表达与分化程度、淋巴结转移、临床分期相关,SM22a高表达与临床分期相关、淋巴结转移相关;microRNA21与SM22a的表达呈正相关。结论MicroRNA21、SM22a协同高表达共同参与哈萨克族食管癌的侵袭发展过程。     

海南岛油茶种质资源遗传多样性的SRAP分析

为了解海南岛油茶(Camellia oleifera)种质资源的遗传多样性,采用SRAP分子标记,对海南岛油茶主要分布区的31个居群进行了遗传多样性和亲缘关系分析。结果表明,海南岛油茶资源的遗传多样性低,物种水平的多态性百分率(PPB)为98.30%,Nei’s基因多样性(H)为0.222 8,Shannon信息指数(I)为0.353 8;居群水平的PPB=40.96%,观测等位基因数(Na)为1.409 6,有效等位基因数(Ne)为1.237 1, H=0.138 5, I=0.208 3,这与海南岛油茶丰富的表型多样性水平不一致。海南岛油茶资源遗传分化较大,居群间基因交流有限,不同居群间的遗传分化指数(Gst)为0.380,基因流(Nm)为0.813 91。遗传变异主要发生在居群内,有38.05%的变异存在居群间,61.95%存在于居群内。遗传距离为0.022 6～0.276 4,平均为0.107 7,居群间的亲缘关系较近。UPGMA聚类分析表明,在遗传距离为0.11处,可将31个油茶居群聚为6类,表现出明显的行政区域性,而与地理距离关系不大。因此,海南岛油茶资源遗传多样性低,亲缘关系近可能导致自交或近交不亲和,可能是海南油茶林分花量大而结实低的主要内在原因。     

大鼠冠状病毒和仙台病毒的双重PCR检测方法的建立与应用

目的建立快速检测实验大鼠冠状病毒和仙台病毒的双重PCR方法。方法根据大鼠冠状病毒N基因、仙台病毒L基因设计特异性引物;经过双重PCR优化,特异性和敏感性的检测,建立双重PCR体系。应用该PCR体系检测人工感染仙台病毒组织DNA样本和实验动物组织样本,并与ELISA方法比对。结果双重PCR扩增出大鼠冠状病毒(168 bp)和仙台病毒(262 bp)目的条带,PCR扩增产物测序结果利用核酸BLAST功能进行同源序列对比,仙台病毒和大鼠冠状病毒同源性分别为100%和99%。仙台病毒和大鼠冠状病毒的检测下限为1.56×10~2 copies/μL。特异性检测对小鼠肝炎病毒扩增,产生片段大小近似大鼠冠状病毒产物。应用建立的双重PCR体系检测人工感染仙台病毒组织DNA样本,30份DNA标本均被检出;检测94份实验动物肺组织样本,结果均阴性。结论建立的双重PCR方法操作简单、快速、特异性强、灵敏度高,能够实现对实验动物仙台病毒和大鼠冠状病毒病原体的快速检测。