NF-kappaB activates fibronectin gene expression in rat hepatocytes

Resveratrol (RSVL), an edible polyphenolic stilbene, claims a myriad of cardiovascular benefits. However, the molecular underpinnings of such actions are poorly understood. Currently, in sheep coronary arteries (SCA), RSVL markedly (threefold) enhanced cGMP formation (t(1/2): 6.5 min; EC(50): 3 microM). This response was not abrogated by the phosphodiesterase inhibitor (IBMX, 0.5 mM), but was partly sensitive (20-30%) to either removal of the endothelium, treatment with the nitric oxide synthase-inhibitor (L-NMMA, 10 microM), or with the soluble GC (sGC)-inhibitor (ODQ, 10 microM). In membrane preparations from denuded SCA, either RSVL or the pGC agonist atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP, 0.1-1 microM) activated GC in the particulate, but not in the soluble, membrane fraction. By contrast, the nitric oxide donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 1-10 microM), stimulated GC only in the soluble fraction. Further, pretreatment with RSVL partly desensitized the ANP response, but was additive to that of SNP. In arterial tension studies, RSVL relaxed PGF(2alpha)-precontracted denuded rings in a concentration-dependent manner, a response that was markedly enhanced (approximately 18 fold) in the presence of IBMX. Conversely, precontraction with phorbol ester, which also desensitizes pGC, blunted relaxations to RSVL but not to forskolin or SNP. These findings demonstrate that RSVL increases cGMP in coronary arteries, mostly by activation of pGC. This pathway triggers vasorelaxant responses that remain effective in endothelium-disrupted arteries.     

伯乐树种子不同条件贮藏下前后生理比较

对3个不同地区（浙江省遂昌县、福建省浦城县和浙江江山市）的伯乐树种子形态指标进行了测定。并分别设置3种贮藏方式（A为室内湿沙环境下贮藏;B为低温（4℃）湿沙下贮藏;C为低温（4℃）封口袋中贮藏）,对贮藏前后种子的发芽率、发芽势、含水量等生理指标进行了比较研究。结果表明,浦城县地区较另外二个地区的种子狭长而扁平,且质量较小。经130d的贮藏后,3个地区的种子内淀粉含量显著下降（P〈0．05）,含水量、蛋白酶活性、淀粉酶活性、蛋白含量和可溶性糖含量则均显著升高（P〈0．05）,从而使休眠得以解除。贮藏后的发芽率和发芽势显著提高（P〈0．05）,以湿沙低温下的发芽率和发芽势为最高。     

Sequence comparison of rat liver phenylalanine hydroxylase and its cDNA clones

Classical phenylketonuria, an inborn error in metabolism, is caused by a deficiency of the hepatic enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase. The identification of putative cDNA clones coding for rat liver phenylalanine hydroxylase by hybrid-selected translation has previously been reported [Robson, K. J., Chandra, T., MacGillivray, R. T. A., & Woo, S. L. C. (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79, 4701-4705]. The authenticity of the clones, however, could not be definitively ascertained at the time because of a lack of amino acid sequence data of the enzyme in the literature. Purified rat liver phenylalanine hydroxylase was subjected to cyanogen bromide treatment, and the resulting fragments were used for N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis. The partial amino acid sequence was then compared to that deduced from an open reading frame in the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA clones. A perfect match of 17 amino acid residues was found between the two sequences following a unique methionine codon present in the nucleotide sequence, thereby providing unambiguous evidence for the identity of the rat liver phenylalanine hydroxylase cDNA clones.     

Molecular Dissection of Bombyx mori Nucleopolyhedrovirus orf8 Gene

Viruses including baculoviruses are obligatory parasites, as their genomes do not encode all the proteins required for replication. Therefore, viruses have evolved to exploit the behavior and the physiology of their hosts and often eoevolved with their hosts over millions of years. Recent comparative analyses of complete genome sequences of baculoviruses revealed the patterns of gene acquisitions and losses that have occurred during baculovirus evolution. In addition, knowledge of virus genes has also provided understanding of the mechanism of baculovirus infection including replication, species-specific virulence and host range. The Bm8 gene of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) and its homologues are found only in group I NPV genomes. The Autographa californica NPV Acl6 gene is a homologue of Bm8 and, encodes a viral structural protein. It has been shown that Bm8/Ac 16 interacts with baculoviral and cellular proteins. Bm8/Ac 16 interacts with baculoviral IE1 that is facilitated by coiled coil domains, and the interaction with IE1 is important for Bin8 function. Ac16 also forms a complex with viral FP25 and cellular actin and associates with membranes via palmitoylation. These data suggested that this gene family encodes a multifunctional protein that accomplishes specific needs of group INPVs.     

灰葡萄孢丝裂原活化蛋白激酶编码基因bmp1和bmp3的功能

【背景】植物病原真菌丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(Mitogen-activated protein kinase,MAPK)信号途径参与病菌有性生殖、细胞壁完整、菌丝侵染、致病力、胁迫响应等过程,灰葡萄孢MAPK信号途径参与病菌生长发育、致病力以及胁迫响应,但MAPK信号途径基因在灰葡萄孢中的功能尚未完全阐明,该信号途径对灰葡萄孢的生长发育和致病力的调控机制尚不明确。【目的】明确灰葡萄孢MAPK编码基因bmp1、bmp3在病菌生长发育、致病力以及氧化胁迫响应过程的功能,为进一步阐明MAPK信号途径调控灰葡萄孢生长发育和致病力的分子机制奠定基础。【方法】利用RNAi技术构建灰葡萄孢MAPK编码基因bmp1和bmp3的RNAi突变体,并以野生型BC22菌株为对照,对bmp1和bmp3基因的RNAi突变体的表型、致病力以及对氧化胁迫的敏感性进行分析。【结果】灰葡萄孢bmp1和bmp3基因的RNAi突变体其菌落形态、菌丝形态均与野生型BC22菌株没有明显差别;bmp1基因的RNAi突变体生长速率明显减慢,分生孢子产量明显降低;bmp3基因的RNAi突变体的生长速率与野生型BC22菌株没有明显差别,不能产生分生孢子。bmp1和bmp3基因的RNAi突变体在番茄果实的表面均不能产生明显的致病症状,而且不能穿透玻璃纸。bmp1基因的RNAi突变体在含有H_2O_2的培养基上受抑制的程度显著低于野生型,而在含甲萘醌的培养基上受抑制的程度显著高于野生型;bmp3基因的RNAi突变体在含有H_2O_2和甲萘醌的培养基受抑制的程度均显著高于野生型。【结论】灰葡萄孢bmp1基因正调控病菌生长、分生孢子形成、致病力和穿透能力,参与调控病菌对氧化胁迫的响应;灰葡萄孢bmp3基因正调控病菌分生孢子形成、致病力、穿透能力以及对氧化胁迫的响应。     

2011年、2013年和2016年医院内获得性血流感染常见病原菌分布及其耐药性分析

动态监测2011年、2013年和2016年我国不同地区医院内获得性血流感染病原菌分布及耐药进展趋势。从全国10个城市回顾性收集血流感染病原菌非重复性株,采用琼脂稀释法或微量肉汤稀释法进行药物敏感性试验,采用Whonet 5.6软件对药敏试验结果进行分析。收集的2 248株血流感染病原菌中革兰阴性杆菌为1 657株 (占73.7%),革兰阳性球菌为591株 (占26.3%)。分离率排名前五的病原菌依次为大肠埃希菌 (32.6%,733株/2 248株)、肺炎克雷伯菌 (14.5%,327株/2 248株)、金黄色葡萄球菌 (10.0%,225株/2 248株)、鲍曼不动杆菌 (8.7%,196株/ 2 248株) 和铜绿假单胞菌 (6.2%,140株/2 248株)。血流感染分离的革兰阴性杆菌对抗菌药物体外敏感率较高的抗菌药物依次为粘菌素 (96.5%,1 525株/1 581株,不包括天然耐药菌株)、替加环素 (95.6%,1 375株/1 438株,不包括天然耐药菌株)、头孢他啶/克拉维酸 (89.2%,1 112株/1 246株)、阿米卡星 (86.4%,1 382株/1 599株) 和美罗培南 (85.7%,1 376株/1 605株);革兰阳性球菌对抗菌药物体外敏感率较高的抗菌药物依次为替加环素、替考拉宁和达托霉素 (敏感率均为100.0%)、万古霉素和利奈唑胺 (敏感率均为99.7%)。2011年、2013年和2016年产超广谱β-内酰胺酶肠杆菌科细菌分离率分别为50.6% (206株/407株)、49.8% (136株/273株) 和38.9% (167株/429株);碳青霉烯不敏感肠杆菌科细菌分离率分别为2.2% (9株/408株)、4.0% (16株/402株) 和3.9% (17株/ 439株);多重耐药鲍曼不动杆菌分离率分别为76.4% (55株/72株)、82.7% (43株/52株) 和87.5% (63株/72株),多重耐药铜绿假单胞菌分离率分别为9.8% (5株/51株)、20.0% (7株/35株) 和13.0% (7株/54株);甲氧西林耐药金黄色葡萄球菌的分离率分别为51.9% (41株/79株)、29.7% (19株/64株) 和31.7% (26株/82株)。屎肠球菌和粪肠球菌中高水平庆大霉素耐药株分离率分别为43.2% (48株/111株) 和40.9% (27株/66株)。碳青霉烯不敏感肠杆菌科细菌中肺炎克雷伯菌居首位,占57.1% (24株/42株) 。肠杆菌科细菌中分离出30株替加环素不敏感株,其中肺炎克雷伯菌占76.7% (23株/30株);分离出粘菌素耐药肠杆菌科细菌39株,其中大肠埃希菌、阴沟肠杆菌和肺炎克雷伯菌分别占43.6% (17株/39株)、35.9% (14株/39株) 和15.4% (6株/39株)。医院获得性血流感染病原菌主要为革兰阴性杆菌 (以大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌为主),其对替加环素、粘菌素和碳青霉烯类药物的敏感率较高;革兰阳性球菌中分离率最高的为金黄色葡萄球菌,其次为屎肠球菌,这两种细菌对替加环素、达托霉素、利奈唑胺、万古霉素和替考拉宁的敏感率较高。粘菌素耐药肠杆菌科细菌、替加环素不敏感肠杆菌科细菌、利奈唑胺或万古霉素不敏感革兰阳性球菌的分离,警示临床高度关注,仍需动态监测耐药进展趋势。     

An Imported Case of Cystic Echinococcosis in the Liver

A 25-year-old Uzbek male presented with right upper abdominal pain for 20 days. On radiologic studies, a huge cystic mass was noticed in the right liver which was suspected as parasitic. The patient received right hepatic segmentectomy (segment 7), and the surgically resected mass was confirmed as cystic echinococcosis (CE), measuring 10.5 cm in its diameter. The inner surface of the cyst was bile-stained. The patient was discharged on the 8th hospital day, and was rechecked 6 months after the surgical intervention without any evidence of recurrence. The present report describes findings of an imported case of CE which represented ultrasound images of the ''ball of wool''.     

Distal NF-kB binding motif functions as an enhancer for nontypeable H. influenzae-induced DEFB4 regulation in epithelial cells

Among the antimicrobial molecules produced by epithelial cells, DEFB4 is inducible in response to proinflammatory signals such as cytokines and bacterial molecules. Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is an important human pathogen that exacerbates chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adult and causes otitis media and sinusitis in children. Previously, we have demonstrated that DEFB4 effectively kills NTHi and is induced by NTHi via TLR2 signaling. The 5′-flanking region of DEFB4 contains several NF-κB binding motifs, but their NTHi-specific activity remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate molecular mechanism involved in DEFB4 regulation, focusing on the role of the distal NF-κB binding motif of DEFB4 responding to NTHi. Here, we show that the human middle ear epithelial cells up-regulate DEFB4 expression in response to NTHi via NF-κB activation mediated by IκKα/β−IκBα signaling. Deletion of the distal NF-κB binding motif led to a significant reduction in NTHi-induced DEFB4 up-regulation. A heterologous construct containing the distal NF-κB binding motif was found to increase the promoter activity in response to NTHi, indicating a NTHi-responding enhancer activity of the distal NF-κB binding motif. Furthermore, electrophoretic mobility shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that the p65 domain of NF-κB binds to the distal NF-κB binding motif in response to NTHi. Taken together, our results suggest that NTHi-induced binding of p65 NF-κB to the distal NF-κB binding motif of DEFB4 enhances NTHi-induced DEFB4 regulation in epithelial cells.     

Simulation of sequential batch reactor (SBR) operation for simultaneous removal of nitrogen and phosphorus

Modeling of the operation of sequential batch reactor (SBR) was performed to find out optimum design parameters for simultaneous removal of nitrogen and phosphorus in a small-scale wastewater treatment plant. The models were set up with material balances on SBR operation and Monod kinetics. The model parameters were obtained to best fit the experimental results in a small scale SBR. The models were useful in optimizing hydraulic retention time (HRT) and successfully simulated operations of SBR in a larger scale. Especially the model predicted well the reactions occurring in the filling period as well as the effect of dilution, and evaluated the performance of SBR process under diverse operating conditions.