Determination of cefazedone in human plasma by high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry: Application to a pharmacokinetic study on Chinese volunteers

A rapid, sensitive and simple high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) method was developed for determination of cefazedone in human plasma using metronidazole as internal standard (IS). The chromatographic separation was achieved on an Ultimate XB-CN column (2.1 mm × 150 mm, 5 μm) with an isocratic mobile phase of acetonitrile and 20 mM ammonium acetate in 0.1% formic acid in water (15:85, v/v). Detection was performed using electrospray ionization in positive ion multiple reaction-monitoring mode (SRM), monitoring the transitions m/z 548.2 → 344.1 for cefazedone and m/z 172.2 → 128.1 for IS. Calibration curves were linear over a wide range of 0.20–401.12 μg/mL for cefazedone in plasma. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 0.20 μg/mL. The intra- and inter-day precisions were less than 7.2%. The average recovery of cefazedone was 90.8–91.0%. The validated method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of cefazedone in Chinese healthy volunteers following intravenous (IV) administration of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg cefazedone injection.     

大棚黄瓜霜霉病气候生态防治方法研究再报——高温控制与病情和产量关系及其防治指标

本文采用田间温度控制试验资料,用数理统计的方法分析高温控制范围、控制时间和控制频率与大棚黄瓜霜霉病的发生期、流行期、发生程度以及产量的关系,并建立了统计相关模式,确定了高温控制生态防治方法的技术指标。最高温度、高温控制时间和控制频率这3个主要指标与病情和黄瓜产量的关系非常密切,最高气温每升高1℃,发病期和流行期将推迟3—5天,病叶率降低13—15％,黄瓜产量可增长10％左右。在一定范围内,控制时间越长,频率越高,则发病期和流行期越晚,病情越轻,产量越高。研究证明,高温控制方法是一个有效的生态防治方法,具有明确的气候生态学依据。     

震旦鸦雀种群生态的研究

震旦鸦雀是一种小型濒危鸟类,在IUCN和ICBP出版的红皮书中,共同认定为Ⅰ(Indeterminate)级。本文是作者于1985～1986年期间,对种群生态进行研究的首次报道。该鸟栖息于上海沿海芦苇滩中。种群密度1.21±0.57对/公顷。文中还论述数量变动和种群活动的变化规律。在奉贤沿海估计有290～387对。在越冬期中,剥取芦鞘内的寄生虫等为食。由于围垦不断发展,栖息地日益缩小,因此在生存上受到严重威胁。     

Enhancement of Astragalus polysaccharide on the immune responses in pigs inoculated with foot-and-mouth disease virus vaccine

The effects of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on the immune response in pigs immunized with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) vaccine were investigated. Fifteen pigs were randomly divided into five groups. Four groups were vaccinated with a FMDV inactivated vaccine. Pigs in three experimental groups were administered varying doses of APS (APS1, 5 mg/kg; APS2, 10 mg/kg; APS3, 20 mg/kg). The influence of APS on the number of CD3⁺CD4⁻CD8⁺ cytotoxic T cells, CD3⁺CD4⁺CD8⁺ T helper memory cells, and CD3⁻CD4⁻CD8⁺ natural killer cells among peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in the three APS groups were significant compared to the vaccine group. In vitro stimulation of PBL by Con A and LPS in APS groups induced a stronger proliferative response at 2 and 6 weeks post-inoculation (PI). APS markedly increased the titer of FMDV-specific antibody in a dose-dependent manner, and up-regulated mRNA expression of IFN-γ and IL-6. APS could potentially be used as an immunomodulator for a FMDV vaccine and provide better protection against FMDV.     

The influence of coumestrol,zearalenone, and genistein administration on insulin receptors and insulin secretion in ovariectomized rats

The influence of phytoestrogens (genistein and coumestrol) and mycoestrogen (zearalenone) on insulin secretion, liver insulin receptors and some aspects of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism were investigated in this study. Ovariectomized rats were injected s.c. with the above mentioned compounds in the amount of 1 mg for three days. Coumestrol and zearalenone caused a significant increase in uterus weight, similar to the effects observed after estrone action, while this effect was not observed after the genistein injection. Blood insulin level was not changed after phyto- or mycoestrogen treatment. However, coumestrol and genistein significantly decreased the binding capacity of liver insulin receptors. These changes corresponded with alterations in glucose and free fatty acids profiles in blood, as well as with glycogen content in liver. The effects observed after genistein and coumestrol injections differed from those noticed in rats treated with zearalenone or estrone. On the basis of these results we conclude that metabolic effects of high doses of coumestrol and genistein in ovariectomized rats are partly mediated by changes in insulin sensitivity of the liver and that the action of plant estrogens on metabolism is, at least to the some degree, independent of their estrogen activity.     

Diazoxide Pretreatment Prevents Aβ1–42 Induced Oxidative Stress in Cholinergic Neurons Via Alleviating NOX2 Expression

The aggregation and accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Aβ is known to increase free radical production in neuronal cells, leading to oxidative stress and cell death. Diazoxide (DZ), a highly selective drug capable of opening mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels, has neuroprotective effects against neuronal cell death. However, the mechanism through which DZ protects cholinergic neurons against Aβ-induced oxidative injury is still unclear. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of DZ pretreatment against Aβ_1–42 induced oxidative damage and cytotoxicity. Through measures of DZ effects on Aβ_1–42 induced cellular damage, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MDA generation and expressions of gp91phox and p47phox in cholinergic neurons, new insights into the neuroprotective mechanisms can be derived. Aβ_1–42 significantly decreased 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide levels and increased ROS and MDA production; all effects were attenuated by pretreatment with DZ or diphenyleneiodonium chloride (a NOX2 inhibitor). Pretreatment with DZ also attenuated the upregulation of NOX2 subunits (gp91phox and p47phox) induced by Aβ_1–42. Since NOX2 is one of the main sources of free radicals, these results suggest that DZ can counteract Aβ_1–42 induced oxidative stress and associated cell death by reducing the level of ROS and MDA, in part, by alleviating NOX2 expression.     

荒漠植物白刺属4个物种的生殖分配比较

选定乌兰布和沙漠地区白刺属4种植物为研究对象,通过对其样株在花期的各生殖构件的数量特征及生物量调查,系统研究了唐古特白刺(Nitraria tangutorum Bobr.)、西伯利亚白刺(Nitraria sibirica Pall.)、大白刺(Nitraria roborowskii Kom.)和泡泡刺(Nitraria sphaerocarpa Maxim.)4种白刺属植物在生殖枝水平上的生殖分配。结果表明:不同白刺属植物在分株高度、生殖枝长、生殖枝基径、单枝花数、花序干重、枝叶干重等生殖构件的数量性状方面均有显著差异,其中泡泡刺的各生殖构件的数量均最小;除了西伯利亚白刺的生殖分配值达到44.51%外,其余3种白刺的生殖分配值均没有超过20%。经统计分析,4种白刺种群的生殖枝长分别与分株高度呈显著(P<0.05)的直线性正相关关系;生殖枝花序干重与分株高显著正相关;4种白刺的生殖分配随着分株生殖枝生物量的增加而减少,即白刺的个体大小与生殖分配之间呈现负相关关系。这种生殖分配特点反映了不同白刺植物对生长环境的资源利用、与克隆繁殖的权衡及对生态适应的策略。     

Engineering imaging probes and molecular machines for nanomedicine

Nanomedicine is an emerging field that integrates nanotechnology, biomolecular engineering, life sciences and medicine; it is expected to produce major breakthroughs in medical diagnostics and therapeutics. Due to the size-compatibility of nano-scale structures and devices with proteins and nucleic acids, the design, synthesis and application of nanoprobes, nanocarriers and nanomachines provide unprecedented opportunities for achieving a better control of biological processes, and drastic improvements in disease detection, therapy, and prevention. Recent advances in nanomedicine include the development of functional nanoparticle based molecular imaging probes, nano-structured materials as drug/gene carriers for in vivo delivery, and engineered molecular machines for treating single-gene disorders. This review focuses on the development of molecular imaging probes and engineered nucleases for nanomedicine, including quantum dot bioconjugates, quantum dot-fluorescent protein FRET probes, molecular beacons, magnetic and gold nanoparticle based imaging contrast agents, and the design and validation of zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) and TAL effector nucleases (TALENs) for gene targeting. The challenges in translating nanomedicine approaches to clinical applications are discussed.     

MiR‐616‐3p modulates cell proliferation and migration through targeting tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 in preeclampsia

Objectives

Despite improvements in diagnosis and treatment, preeclampsia (PE) continues to pose a significant risk of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality if not addressed promptly. An increasing number of studies have suggested that tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 (TFPI2) acts as a suppressor gene, possibly inhibiting multiple serine proteases affecting cell proliferation and migration. It plays an essential role in the occurrence and development of PE, but the pathogenesis remains unclear.

Materials and methods

In our research, we performed western blotting, immunohistochemistry and qPCR assays to investigate TFPI2 and miR‐616‐3p expression in preeclamptic placental tissues. Cell assays were performed in HTR‐8/SVneo and JEG3 cell lines. Cell proliferation and migration events were investigated by MTT, EdU and transwell assays. In conjunction with bioinformatics analysis, luciferase reporter assays were performed to elucidate the mechanism by which miR‐616‐3p binds to TFPI2 mRNA.

Results

We established that TFPI2 protein levels were significantly upregulated in PE placental tissues. In addition, we found that miR‐616‐3p binds specifically to the 3′‐UTR region of TFPI2 mRNA. Furthermore, miR‐616‐3p knockdown or TFPI2 overexpression substantially impaired cell growth and migration, whereas miR‐616‐3p upregulation or TFPI2 knockdown stimulated cell proliferation and migration. This miR‐616‐3p / TFPI2 axis was also found to affect the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition process in PE.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated that TFPI2 plays a vital role in the progression of PE and might provide a prospective therapeutic strategy to mitigate the severity of the disorder.