Dielectric properties of human red blood cells in suspension at radio frequencies

Dielectric properties of human red blood cells (RBCs) in suspension (hematocrit 50%) from 243 healthy persons (120 males, 123 females) were measured at 25 °C in a frequency range of 1–500 MHz, with a coaxial transmission line reflection method (one-side measurement). The measuring system, controlled by an IBM-PC computer, was composed of a network analyzer (HP4195A), an impedance test adapter (HP41951-61001), a coaxial line sensor, and a temperature-controlling set. The data measured revealed a statistically significant age dependence, with a critical age of about 49 years, above which permittivity and conductivity of human RBCs in suspension decreased significantly. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Cell aggregation and neurite growth in gels of extracellular matrix molecules

Components of the extracellular matrix are believed to guide both nerve cells and neurites to their targets during embryogenesis and, therefore, might be useful for controlling regeneration of nervous tissue in adults. To study the influence of extracellular conditions on neurite outgrowth and cell motility, PC12 cells were suspended in three-dimensional gels containing (i) collagen (0.4 to 2 mg/mL), (ii) collagen (1 mg/mL) with added fibronectin or laminin (1 to 100 mug/mL), and (iii) agarose (7 mg/mL) with added collagen (0.001 to 1 mg/mL). Neurite outgrwoth was stimulated with nerve growth factor (NGF) and both the extent of neurite outgrowth ad cell aggregation were quantitated over 10 to 12 days in culture. The extent of neurite outgrowth was greatest at the lowest collagen concentration tested (0.4 mg/mL) and decreased with increasing concentration. The addition of laminin or fibronectin altered the extent of neurite outgrowth in collagen gels, but the differences were small. Although no neurite growth was observed in pure agarose gels, considerable neurite outgrowth occurred with the addition of small amounts (>/=0.01 mg/mL) of collagen. Mean aggregate size increased more quickly in gels with lower concentrations of collagen. For cells in 1.0 mg/mL collagen, a four- to fivefold increase in aggregate volume was seen between days 2 and 10 o the culture period, whereas the increase in DNA content during this same period was less than twofold, suggesting that the cells were aggregating, not multiplying. These results suggest that the composition of the matrix supporting nerve cells has a significant effect on both neurite outgrowth and cell motility. (c) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Artificial mosaic protein containing antigenic epitopes of hepatitis E virus.

A synthetic gene encoding an artificial polypeptide composed of antigenic epitopes of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) proteins was constructed from short oligodeoxyribonucleotides by using PCR. The polypeptide comprises a mosaic of three antigenically active dominant regions from the protein encoded by open reading frame 2 (ORF2), one antigenically active region from the protein encoded by ORF3 of the Burmese HEV strain, and one antigenically active region from the protein encoded by ORF3 of the Mexican HEV strain. The mosaic protein was expressed in Escherichia coli as a chimera with glutathione S-transferase or beta-galactosidase. Guinea pig sera containing antibodies to the corresponding HEV synthetic peptides were used to demonstrate by Western immunoblot analysis and enzyme immunoassay the presence and accessibility of all HEV-specific antigenic epitopes introduced into the mosaic protein. Both the glutathione S-transferase and beta-galactosidase hybrid proteins were analyzed by using a panel of human anti-HEV-positive and -negative sera. The data obtained strongly indicate a diagnostic potential for the mosaic protein.     

A comparative analysis of genetic polymorphism in wild and cultivated barley from Tibet using isozyme and ribosomal DNA markers.

This study was conducted to address some of the issues concerning the possible significance of Tibet in the origin and evolution of cultivated barley. A total of 1757 barley accessions from Tibet, including 1496 entries of Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare (HV), 229 entries of the six-rowed wild barley H. vulgare ssp. agriocrithon (HA), and 32 entries of the two-rowed wild barley H. vulgare ssp. spontaneum (HS), were assayed for allozymes at four esterase loci. A subsample of 491 accessions was surveyed for spacer-length polymorphism at two ribosomal DNA loci. Genetic variation is extensive in these barley groups, and the amount of genetic diversity in cultivated barley of this region is comparable with that of cultivated barley worldwide. The level of genetic variation of HA is significantly lower than the other two barley groups, and there is also substantial heterogeneity in the level of polymorphism among different agrigeographical subregions. However, little genetic differentiation was detected among the three barley groups (HV, HA, and HS), as well as among different agrigeographical subregions. Comparison of the results from this and previous studies indicated a strong differentiation between Oriental and Occidental barley, thus favoring the hypothesis of a diphyletic origin of cultivated barley.     

天然杀伤细胞在受照射小鼠中的造血调控作用

研究了天然杀伤（ＮＫ）细胞对受致死剂量γ线照射的同系小鼠的造血调控作用。ＡＭＳ／５小鼠经９Ｇｙγ线全身照射后立即经尾静脉注射ＮＫ细胞（５×１０５）,可明显提高受照小鼠３０ｄ活存率,照后８ｄ小鼠骨髓中ＣＦＵ－ＧＭ数量明显高于对照和脾细胞注射组,照射后３０ｄ,ＮＫ细胞注射组活存小鼠的骨髓有核细胞数和ＣＦＵ－ＧＭ数已恢复到正常的７６％─９６％。病理组织学观察显示,输注ＮＫ细胞可使小鼠骨髓、脾脏的组织损伤程度减轻,造血功能增强,表现为造血灶数增多,造血细胞功能活跃,核分裂相增多,且涉及红系、粒系、巨核细胞系造血。ＮＫ细胞可能通过直接与造血干细胞相互作用或改善造血微环境等促进“内源性”造血功能,从而发挥对造血的正调控作用。提示ＮＫ细胞在小鼠造血功能的平衡维持中起重要作用。     

黄芪改善红细胞变形能力的活性成分研究

膜荚黄芪(Astragalus Membrannaceus(Fisch)Bunge)为豆科紫云英属植物,其根作为传统中药黄芪之正品。本课题通过以改善红细胞变形能力为活性导向筛选,用核孔膜滤筛法,以IF值为指标,对膜荚黄芪的成分进行了系统分离和鉴定。结果表明:黄芪中的黄芪皂甙Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ(Astragaloside Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ)等皂甙类及芒柄花素(Formononetin),毛蕊异黄酮(Calycosin)等异黄酮类化合物,对孵化红细胞的变形能力有明显的改善作用,这可能是黄芪改善血液流变学指标的重要机理。     

Definition of an HLA-DPw2-restricted epitope on NS3, recognized by a dengue virus serotype-cross-reactive human CD4+ CD8- cytotoxic T-cell clone.

We previously reported that the clone JK34 was cross-reactive for dengue virus types 1, 2, 3, and 4 and recognized NS3 (I. Kurane, M. A. Brinton, A. L. Samson, and F. A. Ennis, J. Virol. 65:1823-1828, 1991). In the present experiments, we defined the epitope at the amino acid level, with 93 15-mer overlapping peptides which cover the entire NS3. A peptide 4 which contains amino acids 251 to 265 of NS3 sensitized the autologous B lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL) to the lysis by JK34. The smallest peptide recognized by JK34 was a 10-mer peptide which contains amino acids 255 to 264 (EIVDLMCHAT). A monoclonal antibody to HLA-DP inhibited the lysis of epitope peptide-pulsed autologous LCL by JK34. Genotypic typing revealed that the HLA-DP of this donor is DPA1*01, DPB1*0201, which is serologically defined as HLA-DPw2. JK34 lysed peptide 4-pulsed allogeneic LCL which carried HLA-DPw2. These results indicate that HLA-DPw2 is the restriction allele for recognition of this epitope by JK34.     

A study of the association between schizophrenia and the dopamine D3 receptor gene

A study of the genetic association between schizophrenia and aBalI polymorphism in exon 1 of the dopamine D₃ (DRD3) gene, a candidate gene for schizophrenia, was conducted. The polymorphism was examined in 91 patients whose symptoms satisfied DSM-III-R for schizophrenia and 90 controls. There were no significant differences between the groups in allele frequencies or genotype counts. Contrary to a previous report, the patients were no more likely to be homozygous than controls. Moreover, no association with the presence of illness could be demonstrated when the patients were grouped according to sex, age of onset, history of admission to psychiatric institutions or positive family history.     

Bisphenol S induces oxidative stress-mediated impairment of testosterone synthesis by inhibiting the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway

Bisphenol S (BPS) is an environmental endocrine disruptor widely used in industrial production. BPS induces oxidative stress and exhibits male reproductive toxicity in mice, but the mechanisms by which BPS impairs steroid hormone synthesis are not fully understood. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/HO-1 signaling is a key pathway in improving cellular antioxidant defense capacities. Therefore, this study explored the effects of exposure to BPS on testosterone synthesis in adult male mice and its mechanisms with regard to the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were orally exposed to BPS (2, 20, and 200 mg/kg BW) with sesame oil as a vehicle (0.1 ml/10 g BW) per day for 28 consecutive days. The results showed that compared with the control group, serum testosterone levels were substantially reduced in the 20 and 200 mg/kg BPS treatment groups, and testicular testosterone levels were reduced in all BPS treatment groups. These changes were accompanied by a prominent decrease in the expression levels of testosterone synthesis-related enzymes (STAR, CYP11A1, CYP17A1, HSD3B1, and HSD17B3) in the mouse testis. In addition, BPS induced oxidative stress in the testis by upregulating the messenger RNA and protein levels of Keap1 and downregulating the levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and downstream antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD1, and Gpx4). In summary, our results indicate that exposure of adult male mice to BPS can inhibit Nrf2/HO-1 signaling and antioxidant enzyme activity, which induces oxidative stress and thereby may impair testosterone synthesis in testicular tissues, leading to reproductive damage.     

江淮稻区稻象虫生物学、生态学的研究

在扬州地区,稻象虫一年发生1代。以老熟幼虫越冬,其越冬存活率免耕田>少耕田>常规耕田,肾发育的高低温临界点为38．16℃和9．84℃,最适发育温度26.52℃,有效积温117.8日度,每头稻虫产卵卵3-29粒,平均18．8粒;成虫羽化后17-31天为产卵盛期;产卵孔平均高度为4.1±1.5cm,水象下卵孔占28．6％：产卵孔与取食孔特征不同．卵期7±1．8天．成,幼虫的各群空间格局基本属密集颁布（仅x^-≤3时的成虫种群为随机分布)．单季稻的为害重于双季稻;沙质土壤的发生量多于粘壤土,稻—麦（油菜）两熟制田的为害显重于稻-稻麦(油菜）三熟制田。