Gentiopicroside promotes the osteogenesis of bone mesenchymal stem cells by modulation of β-catenin-BMP2 signalling pathway

Osteoporosis is characterized by increased bone fragility, and the drugs used at present to treat osteoporosis can cause adverse reactions. Gentiopicroside (GEN), a class of natural compounds with numerous biological activities such as anti-resorptive properties and protective effects against bone loss. Therefore, the aim of this work was to explore the effect of GEN on bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) osteogenesis for a potential osteoporosis therapy. In vitro, BMSCs were exposed to GEN at different doses for 2 weeks, whereas in vivo, ovariectomized osteoporosis was established in mice and the therapeutic effect of GEN was evaluated for 3 months. Our results in vitro showed that GEN promoted the activity of alkaline phosphatase, increased the calcified nodules in BMSCs and up-regulated the osteogenic factors (Runx2, OSX, OCN, OPN and BMP2). In vivo, GEN promoted the expression of Runx2, OCN and BMP2, increased the level of osteogenic parameters, and accelerated the osteogenesis of BMSCs by activating the BMP pathway and Wnt/β-catenin pathway, effect that was inhibited using the BMP inhibitor Noggin and Wnt/β-catenin inhibitor DKK1. Silencing the β-catenin gene and BMP2 gene blocked the osteogenic differentiation induced by GEN in BMSCs. This block was also observed when only β-catenin was silenced, although the knockout of BMP2 did not affect β-catenin expression induced by GEN. Therefore, GEN promotes BMSC osteogenesis by regulating β-catenin-BMP signalling, providing a novel strategy in the treatment of osteoporosis.     

Impact of left atrial appendage location on risk of thrombus formation in patients with atrial fibrillation

Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology - Most strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are thought to arise from thrombus formation in the left atrial appendage (LAA). Assessing the...     

土壤氮磷添加下豆科草本植物生物固氮与磷获取策略的权衡机制

豆科草本植物固氮是陆地生态系统重要的自然氮输入方式, 影响着草地生产的经济性和可持续性。为探讨氮磷交互作用影响豆科草本植物生物固氮率的潜在生理生态机制, 该研究选取8种豆科草本植物分别种植在对照、氮肥添加、磷肥添加和氮磷耦合添加处理的土壤中, 进行野外盆栽实验。测定了初花期植物生物量和营养含量、根部碳水化合物含量、根际pH、根际柠檬酸含量、根际有效磷含量、植物根瘤生物量、磷含量及其生物固氮率。主要结果: 依赖于豆科物种, 氮添加显著促进了豆科草本植物根际磷的活化, 降低了根生物量分配以及根系非结构性碳水化合物含量。在两种磷添加处理下, 氮添加导致8种豆科草本植物根瘤生物量平均下降27%-36%, 生物固氮率平均下降20%-33%。磷添加降低了根际的磷活化, 但促进了豆科草本植物根系发育和非结构性碳水化合物的积累。在施氮和不施氮条件下, 磷添加分别使8种豆科草本植物的生物固氮率提高了45%-69%和0-47%。氮添加降低豆科草本植物生物固氮率, 其原因是氮添加提高了植物磷需求, 为活化更多磷, 豆科草本植物降低根系生物量和根系非结构性碳水化合物的含量, 导致根瘤发育受到限制。在氮添加的同时进行磷添加, 能够改善土壤氮磷平衡, 促进根系生长和非结构性碳水化合物积累, 缓解了增氮对生物固氮的抑制作用。     

中西部幼儿肠道菌群与膳食关系的比较

目的探究中部和西部地区幼儿肠道菌群的结构差异与膳食的关系,为幼儿营养健康状况监测和营养改善工作提供有效的营养干预。方法选择“贫困地区儿童营养改善项目”河南汝阳和贵州福泉,随机抽取107名汉族健康幼儿为调查对象,食物摄入采用24 h消费调查方法。应用高通量测序技术对肠道菌群进行测序和生物信息分析,研究两县幼儿肠道菌群差异。结果两县幼儿肠道菌群组成结构较为一致,但Alpha多样性分析表明,贵州福泉县幼儿肠道物种丰富度和多样性高于河南汝阳县。细菌属水平分析中,两县幼儿肠道内均以拟杆菌属、普雷沃菌、柔嫩梭菌和双歧杆菌属为主导的菌群结构,但河南汝阳县幼儿肠道双歧杆菌属和乳杆菌属丰度显著高于贵州福泉县(12.36% vs. 7.44%;0.19% vs. 0.03%)。结论中西部地区幼儿肠道菌群结构差异不大,但有益菌含量存在显著差异,这为研究肠道菌群与膳食及营养健康状况之间的关系提供了依据。     

贵州省藜芦科一新记录属——白丝草属

报道贵州省藜芦科一新记录属——白丝草属Chamaelirium Willd.,一新记录种——中国白丝草Chamaelirium chinense (K. Krause) N. Tanaka,并对该种的形态特征、生境、分类变动进行描述及讨论。     

Interacting effects of water temperature and dietary protein level on hematological parameters in Nile tilapia juveniles,Oreochromis niloticus (L.) and mortality under Streptococcus iniae infection

Based on central composite rotatable experimental design and response surface method, the interacting effects of temperature (20 °C–34 °C) and dietary protein level (25%–50%) on hematological parameters including red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC) and hemoglobin (Hb) of juvenile Oreochromis niloticus were studied under laboratory conditions. The experiment lasted for 7 weeks. After the feeding trial, fish were challenged with Streptococcus iniae and mortality was recorded for within 8 days. Results showed that the linear and quadratic effects of temperature on RBC, WBC and Hb were highly significant (P < 0.01). When the dietary protein level was 25%–50%, the RBC, WBC and Hb were increased firstly and then decreased, but the linear and quadratic effects of protein level were insignificant (P > 0.05). The interacting effects of temperature and protein level on RBC and Hb were significant (P < 0.05). The regression equations of RBC, WBC and Hb toward the two factors of interest were established, with the coefficients of determination being 0.870, 0.836 and 0.881, respectively (P < 0.01). These equations could be used for prediction in practice. After the challenge, the mortalities for the combinations of 22.1 °C/28.7% and 20.0 °C/37.5% were significantly higher than 27.0 °C/37.5% (P < 0.05). The optimal temperature/dietary protein level combination was obtained at 27.9 °C/38.1% at which the lowest mortality (13.76%) was attained. This value was close to the optimal temperature/dietary protein level combination (29.4 °C/41.9%) for the greatest levels of RBC (2.560 × 10⁶ μL^?1), WBC (270.648 × 10³ μL^?1) and Hb (92.851 g L^?1). The results of this study indicated that preferred temperature/dietary protein level combination might strengthen the non-specific immunity and reduce susceptibility to S. iniae.     

An-1 Encodes a Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Protein That Regulates Awn Development,Grain Size,and Grain Number in Rice

Long awns are important for seed dispersal in wild rice (Oryza rufipogon), but are absent in cultivated rice (Oryza sativa). The genetic mechanism involved in loss-of-awn in cultivated rice remains unknown. We report here the molecular cloning of a major quantitative trait locus, An-1, which regulates long awn formation in O. rufipogon. An-1 encodes a basic helix-loop-helix protein, which regulates cell division. The nearly-isogenic line (NIL-An-1) carrying a wild allele An-1 in the genetic background of the awnless indica Guangluai4 produces long awns and longer grains, but significantly fewer grains per panicle compared with Guangluai4. Transgenic studies confirmed that An-1 positively regulates awn elongation, but negatively regulates grain number per panicle. Genetic variations in the An-1 locus were found to be associated with awn loss in cultivated rice. Population genetic analysis of wild and cultivated rice showed a significant reduction in nucleotide diversity of the An-1 locus in rice cultivars, suggesting that the An-1 locus was a major target for artificial selection. Thus, we propose that awn loss was favored and strongly selected by humans, as genetic variations at the An-1 locus that cause awn loss would increase grain numbers and subsequently improve grain yield in cultivated rice.