The effect of HMGB1 A box on lung injury in mice with acute pancreatitis

The objective of this study is to observe the effect of high-mobility group protein B1 A Box (HMGB1 A) box on lung injury in mice with acute pancreatitis and its effect on the level of high-mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) in lung, to explore the mechanism. A total of 60 male Institute of Cancer Research mice were randomly divided into control group (n = 30) and treatment group (n = 30). Severe acute pancreatitis mice model was induced by 20% L-Arg intraperitoneal injection. The recombination HMGB1 A box was used in treatment after modeling. All the mice were killed under anesthesia at 24 and 48 h after the modeling injection. The level of HMGB1 and activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in lung were measured. The pathological changes of lung were observed. The level of HMGB1 in lung of A box treatment group decreased more significantly 24 h and 48 h after modeling compared with control group. The activity of MPO in lung of A box treatment group decreased more significantly 24 h after modeling compared with control group. The lung tissue pathologic score of A box treatment group decreased more significantly 48 h after modeling compared with control group. HMGB1 expression levels in the lungs were positively related to histological score of injured lung in acute pancreatitis. It indicates that HMGB1 A box is remarkably protective to lung injury induced by acute pancreatitis.     

Computational prediction of microRNAs and their targets from three unicellular algae species with complete genome sequences

The genome sequences of Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Thalassiosira pseudonana, and Cyanidioschyzon merolae have provided significant evidence for the secondary endosymbiosis of diatoms in regard to the genome. Yet little about their relationships in regard to gene regulation pattern, such as microRNA (miRNA), has been reported. Using a homology search based on genomic sequences, 13, 3, and 7 predicted miRNA genes were found in genomes from P. tricornutum, T. pseudonana, and C. merolae, respectively. Of the 23 miRNA genes, 18 had homology with animal miRNAs, implying that they are ancestral miRNAs. A phylogenetic tree based on common miRNA families shared by these three unicellular algae, higher plants, and animals showed that P. tricornutum shared most miRNAs with animals. The phylogenetic tree also showed that C. merolae shared more miRNAs with plants than did the two diatoms, and the majority of its miRNAs were shared with the two diatoms. Our results were consistent with diatoms originating from a secondary endosymbiosis.     

Phytoextraction of heavy metals from contaminated soil by co-cropping with chelator application and assessment of associated leaching risk

Phytoextraction using hyperaccumulating plants is generally time-consuming and requires the cessation of agriculture. We coupled chelators and a co-cropping system to enhance phytoextraction rates, while allowing for agricultural production. An experiment on I m3 lysimeter beds was conducted with a co-cropping system consisting of the hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii and low-accumulating corn (Zea Mays, cv. Huidan-4), with addition ofa mixture of chelators (MC), to assess the efficiency of chelator enhanced co-crop phytoextraction and the leaching risk caused by the chelator. The results showed that the addition of MC promoted the growth of S. alfredii in the first crop (spring-summer season) and significantly increased the metal phytoextraction. The DTPA-extractable and total metal concentrations in the topsoil were also reduced more significantly with the addition of MC compared with the control treatments. However, mono-cropped S. alfredii without MC was more suitable for maximizing S. alfredii growth and therefore phytoextraction of Zn and Cd during the autumn-winter seasons. No adverse impact to groundwater due to MC application was observed during the experiments with three crops and three MC applications. But elevated total Cd and Pb concentrations among subsoils compared to the initial subsoil concentrations were found for the co-crop + MC treatment after the third crop.     

Effects of hypomagnetic field on noradrenergic activities in the brainstem of golden hamster

Previous studies found that elimination of the geomagnetic field (GMF) interferes with the normal brain functions, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. The present study examined the effects of long-term exposures to a near-zero magnetic environment on the noradrenergic activities in the brainstem of golden hamsters. Both the content of norepinephrine (NE) and the density of NE-immunopositive neurons in the tissue decreased significantly after the treatment, and the effects could be progressive with time. These variations may substantially contribute to behavioral and mood disorders reported in other studies when animals are shielded from the GMF.     

Evolution of the syntrophic interaction between Desulfovibrio vulgaris and Methanosarcina barkeri: Involvement of an ancient horizontal gene transfer

The sulfate reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio vulgaris and the methanogenic archaea Methanosarcina barkeri can grow syntrophically on lactate. In this study, a set of three closely located genes, DVU2103, DVU2104, and DVU2108 of D. vulgaris, was found to be up-regulated 2- to 4-fold following the lifestyle shift from syntroph to sulfate reducer; moreover, none of the genes in this gene set were differentially regulated when comparing gene expression from various D. vulgaris pure culture experiments. Although exact function of this gene set is unknown, the results suggest that it may play roles related to the lifestyle change of D. vulgaris from syntroph to sulfate reducer. This hypothesis is further supported by phylogenomic analyses showing that homologies of this gene set were only narrowly present in several groups of bacteria, most of which are restricted to a syntrophic lifestyle, such as Pelobacter carbinolicus, Syntrophobacter fumaroxidans, Syntrophomonas wolfei, and Syntrophus aciditrophicus. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all three individual genes in the gene set tended to be clustered with their homologies from archaeal genera, and they were rooted on archaeal species in the phylogenetic trees, suggesting that they were horizontally transferred from archaeal methanogens. In addition, no significant bias in codon and amino acid usages was detected between these genes and the rest of the D. vulgaris genome, suggesting the gene transfer may have occurred early in the evolutionary history so that sufficient time has elapsed to allow an adaptation to the codon and amino acid usages of D. vulgaris. This report provides novel insights into the origin and evolution of bacterial genes linked to the lifestyle change of D. vulgaris from a syntrophic to a sulfate-reducing lifestyle.     

Comparative analysis of virulence genes, genetic diversity, and phylogeny of commensal and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli isolates from weaned pigs

If the acquisition of virulence genes (VGs) for pathogenicity were not solely acquired through horizontal gene transfers of pathogenicity islands, transposons, and phages, then clonal clusters of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) would contain few or even none of the VGs found in strains responsible for extraintestinal infections. To evaluate this possibility, 47 postweaning diarrhea (PWD) ETEC strains from different geographical origins and 158 commensal E. coli isolates from the gastrointestinal tracts of eight group-housed healthy pigs were screened for 36 extraintestinal and 18 enteric VGs using multiplex PCR assays. Of 36 extraintestinal VGs, only 8 were detected (fimH, traT, fyuA, hlyA, kpsMtII, k5, iha, and ompT) in the ETEC collection. Among these, hlyA (alpha-hemolysin) and iha (nonhemagglutinating adhesin) occurred significantly more frequently among the ETEC isolates than in the commensal isolates. Clustering analysis based on the VG profiles separated commensal and ETEC isolates and even differentiated serogroup O141 from O149. On the other hand, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) successfully clustered ETEC isolates according to both serotype and geographical origin. In contrast, the commensal isolates were heterogeneous with respect to both serotype and DNA fingerprint. This study has validated the use of VG profiling to examine pathogenic relationships between porcine ETEC isolates. The clonal relationships of these isolates can be further clarified by PFGE fingerprinting. The presence of extraintestinal VGs in porcine ETEC confirmed the hypothesis that individual virulence gene acquisitions can occur concurrently against a background of horizontal gene transfers of pathogenicity islands. Over time, this could enable specific clonotypes to respond to host selection pressure and to evolve into new strains with increased virulence.     

昆虫飞行速度和持续时间监测仪硬件设计

本文设计了利用微机记录昆虫飞行状态的实验装置,这种装置由两部分组成,一部分是设计和制作一个飞行磨供昆虫飞行,另一部分是制作光电传感器和微机检测系统,记录信号并把信号进行识别、分析、归类,送往计算机显示和打印。介绍了其工作原理和使用方法。     

三七总皂甙对博莱霉素所致小鼠肺纤维化的干预作用

目的:观察三七总皂甙(PNS)对实验性小鼠肺纤维化的干预作用。方法:小鼠随机分为正常对照组、模型对照组、醋酸泼尼松组和PNS大、中、小剂量组。通过气管内注入博莱霉素(BLM)复制小鼠肺纤维化模型,于造模后第2天各治疗组开始给药,于给药后第7、14、28 d处死部分小鼠,取肺组织,行HE染色,并测定肺组织中羟脯氨酸(HYP)含量。结果PNS能减少实验性肺纤维化小鼠肺组织中胶原沉积及降低肺系数(P<0.05,P<0.01),减轻肺部的病理损害(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论:PNS对BLM诱导产生的小鼠肺纤维化有一定的抑制作用。