Xanthine microsensor based on polypyrrole molecularly imprinted film modified carbon fiber microelectrodes

A molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) microsensor was presented as a carbon fiber microelectrode (CFME) coating for specifically recognizing xanthine (Xan). The polymeric film was obtained based on the imprinted procedure of electropolymerization of pyrrole in the presence of the template molecule Xan by cyclic voltammetry, and template was removed by magnetic stirring. Under the optimum conditions, a satisfactory molecularly binding selectivity of Xan was obtained from the MIPs microsensor with an imprinting factor (IF) of 6.63 and a linear response to concentration in certain ranges. The ranges are from 4.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 6.0 × 10⁻⁵ M and from 8.0 × 10⁻⁵ to 2.0 × 10⁻³ M with a detection limit of 2.5 × 10⁻⁷ M. Meanwhile, good stability (relative standard deviation [RSD] = 3.2%, n = 10) and reproducibility (RSD = 2.0%, n = 10) were observed, and recoveries ranging from 96.9 to 102.5% were calculated when applied to Xan determination in real blood serum samples.     

Didymocarpus dissectus sp. nov. (Gesneriaceae) from Fujian,eastern China

A new species of Gesneriaceae, Didymocarpus dissectus Fang Wen, Y. L. Qiu & Y. G. Wei, from Fujian province, China, is described and illustrated. It is similar to D. heucherifolius in flower shape, but can be easily distinguished by leaf blade shape, split extent of calyx and equal calyx lobes, indumentum of corolla and number of staminodes.     

Dynamic Changes in Bacterial Communities During Compost and Earthworm Treatment of Low-Grade Potassium Ore

Both composting and earthworm treatment can degrade potassium rock powders and bacteria play a key role during the bio-processings. To understand the dominant bacteria and bacterial profile in biological conversion of the ore including compost and earthworm treatment, the bacterial communities in the compost were studied by using the method of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) after ore powder was co-composted with organic wastes and then treated with earthworms. Results showed bacterial community structure changed very quickly during the early stages of solid-state fermentation, but relatively stable in the later stages of fermentation and during earthworm treatment. The dominant species of bacteria largely varied in the earlier stage of composting, but they were stable in the latter stage and during earthworm treatment. Two classes of bacteria, represented by band 12 (likely Alteromonas) and band 14 (likely Firmicutes) in DGGE profile, were found to be dominant species over the entire solid-state fermentation period. No special dominant bacterial species appeared during earthworm treatment. Phylogenetic studies of the bacteria based on 16S rRNA sequences indicate that major 13 bands came from phyla Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, suggesting that bacteria in these phyla played an important role during the compost treatment.     

Enhanced differentiation potential of human amniotic mesenchymal stromal cells by using three-dimensional culturing

The therapeutic potential of human amniotic mesenchymal stromal cells (hAMSCs) remains limited because of their differentiation towards mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) following adherence. The aim of this study was to develop a three-dimensional (3-D) culture system that would permit hAMSCs to differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells. hAMSCs were isolated from human amnions of full-term births collected after Cesarean section. Immunocytochemistry, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry analyses were undertaken to examine hAMSC marker expression for differentiation status after adherence. Membrane currents were determined by patch clamp analysis of hAMSCs grown with or without cardiac lysates. Freshly isolated hAMSCs were positive for human embryonic stem-cell-related markers but their marker profile significantly shifted towards that of MSCs following adherence. hAMSCs cultured in the 3-D culture system in the presence of cardiac lysate expressed cardiomyocyte-specific markers, in contrast to those maintained in standard adherent cultures or those in 3-D cultures without cardiac lysate. hAMSCs cultured in 3-D with cardiac lysate displayed a cardiomyocyte-like phenotype as observed by membrane currents, including a calcium-activated potassium current, a delayed rectifier potassium current and a Ca²⁺-resistant transient outward K⁺ current. Thus, although adherence limits the potential of hAMSCs to differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells, the 3-D culture of hAMSCs represents a more effective method of their culture for use in regenerative medicine.     

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the FTO gene and their association with growth and meat quality traits in rabbits

Fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene is an excellent candidate to affect the fatness and growth-related traits in pig and cattle. The aim of this study was to reveal the association between FTO and growth and meat quality traits in rabbits. A total of eight coding SNPs were detected, and four SNPs of them in exon 3 were further genotyped for association analysis in 442 rabbits from three breeds, including 248 New Zealand rabbits, 92 Ira rabbits, and 102 Champagne rabbits. Because there were significant differences for the allele and genotype frequencies among breeds, the association analysis was independently conducted in each breed only for these SNPs with minor allele frequency > 5.0%. The results revealed that non-synonymous SNP c.499G > A (p.A167T) was significantly associated with body weight (BW) at 35, 70, and 84 days of age in New Zealand rabbits (P < 0.01). The CC genotype of synonymous SNP c.660T > C was significantly associated with higher BW84, average daily weight gain, and intramuscular fat content of longissimus lumborum than TT and TC genotypes in Ira rabbits (P < 0.05). There were no associations between the four SNPs and growth and meat quality traits in Champagne rabbits. Meanwhile, FTO SNPs were not associated with meat pH value. Our data indicated that FTO gene could be a candidate gene associated with growth and meat quality traits in rabbits. However, the breed-specific effect should be carefully taken into consideration.     

一株黑曲霉(Aspergillus niger)对羟基磷灰石合成的诱导

【目的】研究利用真菌诱导的方式合成羟基磷灰石(HAP)。【方法】采用含不同浓度Na2HPO4和CaCO3的PDA(Potato Dextrose Agar Medium)液体培养基,研究黑曲霉作用诱导HAP合成,并用透射电镜(TEM)观察诱导形成的矿物晶体形态和结构、用X射线衍射(XRD)法确定矿物种类。【结果】主要研究结果如下:(1)在含有合适浓度的Na2HPO4和CaCO3的PDA液体培养基中,接入黑曲霉可以诱导HAP晶体的合成。(2)黑曲霉对HAP合成的诱导作用跟反应时间有关,反应时间越长,越有利于生成HAP。分析认为黑曲霉对HAP诱导作用是因其代谢产酸造成对CaCO3的溶解以及菌丝体对Ca2+的富集作用,在菌丝球内先形成白磷钙石,然后进一步转化为羟基磷灰石。【结论】黑曲霉在含Na2HPO4和CaCO3的PDA液体培养基中能诱导羟基磷灰石的生成。由于黑曲霉诱导合成HAP的反应条件温和,制备工艺简单,成本低,因此具有潜在应用前景。     

黑曲霉-矿物聚集体的形成及其分泌的多糖特性

【目的】为深入理解黑曲霉(Aspergillus niger)对含钾矿粉的风化作用,研究在旋转发酵方式下形成的黑曲霉-矿物聚集体及其多糖,并分析它们在含钾矿粉风化过程中的作用。【方法】采用不同组合培养基,研究黑曲霉-矿物聚集体的形成和形貌;联合紫外-可见分光光谱(UV-Vis)、傅立叶变换红外光谱(FT-IR)、气相色谱(GC)、电子扫描显微镜(SEM)、X射线能谱仪(EDS)等分析手段研究黑曲霉-矿物聚集体形成前后微环境中多糖的变化以及这种改变对风化产生的意义。【结果】黑曲霉菌丝与矿粉在多糖等代谢产物帮助下,通过相互缠绕、吸附、粘合等作用形成黑曲霉-矿物聚集体,聚集体形成前后多糖浓度和多糖结构均发生显著改变。【结论】含钾矿粉诱导黑曲霉多糖结构发生明显变化并且浓度增大,这种改变可促进多糖对矿物颗粒的吸附,有助于螯合金属离子和吸附水分子,从而为真菌有效利用矿物营养提供有利的微环境。     

NDRG2 and TLR7 as novel DNA methylation prognostic signatures for acute myelocytic leukemia

Acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) is an aggressive malignant tumor and typically fatal without treatment. Identification and development of novel biomarkers could be beneficial for the diagnosis and prognosis of AML patients. Here, we aimed to identify the accurate DNA methylation prognostic signatures for AML patients. The DNA methylation data of AML patients and corresponding clinical information were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. CPG sites that correlates closely with the survival of the AML patients were identified and further combined into CPG sites pairs to screen the survival-related pairs. The prognostic signatures were identified by the C-index and forward search algorithms and validated by the verification group. Finally, the functional enrichment analysis was performed on these CPG sites. As a result, a total of 498 CPG sites associated with the overall survival of AML patients was obtained. A prognostic signature composed of 10 CPG sites pairs was obtained and validated. The functional enrichment analysis showed prognostic genes were mainly enriched in tumor protein processing, cell differentiation, blood leukocyte immunity, and platelet growth factor pathways. In summary, we identified two accurate prognostic methylation signatures (NDRG2 and TLR7), which would be served as a novel therapy target for AML.