Insulin-like 3 expression and fibrosis induction after intra-testicular injection of magnetic nanoparticles in rat testis and the ameliorative role of Echinacea purpurea extract

The World Health Organization has approved magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) for use as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging or tumor hyperthermia treatment. MNP are toxic over time after intra-testicular injection. A clear strategy to ameliorate the toxic side effects of MNP in normal tissues after medical application has not yet been developed. We used an extract of Echinacea purpurea (EP) as a natural source of antioxidant and free radical scavenging product for detoxification of MNP in testicular tissues. MNP localization in the interstitial area of testicular tissue reduced the expression of insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) proteins as well as serum testosterone levels. Further, MNP caused accumulation of both collagen and elastin in the interstitial area and increased the thickness of the tunica albuginea. Injection of MNP during administration of EP extract for short periods slightly reduced the toxic side effects of MNP. After extended exposure to EP extract, INSL3 expression and testosterone returned to near control levels. Also, collagen and elastin accumulation caused by MNP was reduced after extended exposure to EP extract. We believe that the ameliorative effect of EP extract is due to its antioxidant properties.     

沂蒙山地区中华蜜蜂种群遗传多样性分析(英文)

【目的】中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana是一种重要的种质资源和传粉昆虫,本研究旨在探究山东省沂蒙山地区中华蜜蜂种群遗传多样性和种群结构关系,为沂蒙山地区中华蜜蜂种质资源利用与保护提供理论依据。【方法】本研究通过选取山东省沂蒙山地区7个采样地点的114群中华蜜蜂采集蜂,根据Ruttner的形态学分析方法,对其36项形态学指标进行测定;并利用筛选后的11对荧光标记微卫星引物,研究其遗传多样性。【结果】形态学分析结果表明,沂蒙山地区中华蜜蜂工蜂的平均体长为12.064~13.351 mm,平均前翅长为8.198~8.694 mm。11个微卫星位点共检测到58个等位基因,每个位点的等位基因数从2~17不等,7个群体的平均期望杂合度和多态信息含量分别为0.3115和0.2872,平均等位基因数为2.4545(ST-AQ)~4.0000(BHY),平均期望杂合度为0.1916~0.3397,群体的平均遗传分化系数Fst为0.048。Nei氏遗传距离为0.0092(XL-DLZ到XZ-XLZ))~0.1000(XL-DLZ到XL-DJW)。聚类分析结果表明沂蒙山地区的中蜂可以分成3类。【结论】沂蒙山地区各个采样地点之间的中华蜜蜂种群结构接近,表明不同种群之间存在着基因交流,与其他地区中华蜜蜂种群比较,沂蒙山地区中华蜜蜂在形态和遗传结构上存在一定的特异性。     

GLP-1-IgG4-Fc融合蛋白的表达与鉴定

将合成的人胰高血糖素样肽-1(glucagon-like peptide-1,GLP-1)突变体基因与IgG4抗体的Fc部分进行融合获得GLP-1-IgG4-Fc片段,获得的基因片段与pXC17.4载体进行连接,用电转化方法将线性化质粒稳定转染CHO-K1细胞,通过Clone Pix 2筛选出高表达细胞株,产量达1.5g/L。收集培养上清并经Protein A和Source 30Q纯化,得到的GLP-1-IgG4-Fc融合蛋白,SDS-PAGE纯度高于95%,高效液相色谱(high performance liquid chromatography,HPLC)纯度和毛细管区域凝胶电泳(capillary zone electrophoresis,CZE)纯度均不低于80%,尺寸排阻层析(size-exclusion chromatography,SEC)纯度高于99%。经质谱和肽图谱测定,分子量与理论值一致,肽图谱序列与对照品高度一致。生物学活性分析表明,GLP-1-IgG4-Fc融合蛋白具有促进表达有GLP-1受体的HEK293细胞分泌环磷酸腺苷(cyclic adenosine monophosphate,c AMP)的活性,并且该活性与对照品高度相似。     

重金属累积对泽兰实蝇幼虫生长发育和保护酶的影响

为了弄清重金属通过寄主植物紫茎泽兰累积后对专性寄生天敌泽兰实蝇的生理影响,采用模拟Cd~(2+)、Pb~(2+)或Zn~(2+)污染的土壤培养法胁迫紫茎泽兰,让泽兰实蝇低龄幼虫寄生取食,利用原子吸收分光光度法测定泽兰实蝇老熟幼虫中Cd~(2+)、Pb~(2+)或Zn~(2+)的含量,同时测定分析泽兰实蝇老熟幼虫的体长、鲜重、能量物质和保护酶的变化。结果表明,实验处理的Cd~(2+)、Pb~(2+)或Zn~(2+)均可通过紫茎泽兰传递并累积到泽兰实蝇老熟幼虫体内,引起老熟幼虫一系列生理变化:长度和鲜重降低;总糖、总蛋白和总脂的含量降低,相应的热量值也降低;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)等保护酶的活性降低。本研究为进一步阐明重金属污染对食物链各环节的影响提供了重要的理论依据。     

Expression of Androgen Receptor and Cancer Stem Cell Markers (CD44+/CD24− and ALDH1+): Prognostic Implications in Invasive Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND: Androgen receptor (AR) has emerged as a significant prognostic marker in early breast cancer (BCa). Association of AR with cancer stem cell (CSC) markers in BCa is unknown. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of AR, CD44, CD24 and ALDH1 in a cohort of Pakistani patients diagnosed with invasive BCa and to correlate the expression with 5- year disease free survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated immunohistochemical expression AR, CD44, CD24 and ALDH1 in formalin fixed paraffin embedded archival blocks of 166 cases of primary invasive BCa (stage I-III) and correlated the expression with clinicopathological variables and outcome using univariable and multivariable analysis. Survival data was computed by Kaplan Meier curves. RESULTS: Expression of AR was observed in 62.7% tumors whereas CD44, CD24 and ALDH1 were expressed in 61.4%, 44% and 30.1% tumors, respectively. AR expression was significantly associated with T1-T2 tumors, lower grade, estrogen and progesterone receptor expression (P < .05) and remained an independent prognostic indicator in multivariable analysis (adjusted HR 0.33, 95% CI 0.13–0.81; P = .016). Significant association was observed between concordant expression of AR and CD24 (P = .001) with a favorable impact on survival (P = .007) whereas expression of CSC phenotypes (CD44⁺, CD44⁺/CD24^? and ALDH1⁺) did not correlate with adverse outcome (P > .05). However, AR expression retained the association with better prognosis even in patients whose tumors exhibited a CSC phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of AR and CD24 in stage I-III invasive BCa correlates with favorable clinicopathological features and delineates a subgroup of patients with better disease-free survival.     

Nucleotide polymorphism in colicin E2 gene clusters: evidence for nonneutral evolution

To explore the molecular mechanisms behind the diversification of colicin gene clusters, we examined DNA sequence polymorphism for the colicin gene clusters of 14 colicin E2 (ColE2) plasmids obtained from natural isolates of Escherichia coli. Two types of ColE2 plasmids are revealed, with type II gene clusters generated by recombination between type I ColE2 and ColE7 gene clusters. The levels and patterns of DNA polymorphism are different between the two types. Type I polymorphism is distributed evenly along the gene cluster, while type II accumulates polymorphism at an elevated rate in the 5' end of the colicin gene. These differences may be explained by recombinational origins of type II gene clusters. The pattern of divergence between the ColE2 gene cluster and its close relative ColE9 is not correlated with the pattern of polymorphism within ColE2, suggesting that this gene cluster is not evolving in a neutral fashion. A statistical test confirms significant departures from the predictions of neutrality. These data lend further support to the hypothesis that colicin gene clusters may evolve under the influence of nonneutral forces.      

浙江潜水蜂属一新种（膜翅目：姬蜂总科：潜水蜂科）

本文报道采用浙江庆元百山祖自然保护区的潜水蜂属Ａｇｒｉｏｔｙｐｕｓ Ｃｕｒｔｉｓ１新种;浙江潜水蜂Ａ;ｚｈｅｊｉａｎｇｅｎｓｉｓ Ｈｅ ｅｔ Ｃｈｅｎ,ｓｐ;．ｎｏｖ。模式标本存浙江农业大学。     

细小病毒H-1对人肝癌移植瘤的抑制及其组织学与组织化学的研究

本文用人肝癌裸小鼠QGY-9204移植模型为材料,进行了细小病毒H-1抑瘤的组织学、组织化学及分子生物学研究。以两种不同剂量(5×10~7PFU和5×10~8PFU)的H-1进行瘤内注射,发现注入H-1后的肿瘤生长速率明显缓于对照组,且5×10~7PFU的H-1注入即可产生这一效应。以1×10~8PFU H-1注入瘤内,不同时间进行组织切片观察,发现从感染后第3天起瘤内开始出现坏死,且随感染时间的延长坏死范围也逐渐扩大,而对照组在该期间均未见此变化。电镜结果也表明,在受损的肿瘤细胞内有H-1病毒颗粒存在。PCR反应和ABC免疫染色显示在感染后的肿瘤组织内也有H-1 DNA扩增和NS-1蛋白表达,并且两者显示的时间与组织内坏死的过程相一致。这些结果提示,细小病毒H-1通过它的DNA复制和NS-1蛋白的表达以促进肿瘤的坏死,从而达到肿瘤抑制和裂解。