Hispidulin Induces Apoptosis Through Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Inhibition of P13k/Akt Signalling Pathway in HepG2 Cancer Cells

Hispidulin is a flavonoid compound which is an active ingredient in a number of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. However, it’s therapeutic activity remains poorly understood. The present study investigated the pro-apoptotic effects and mechanism by which Hispidulin induces apoptosis in human hepatoblastoma cancer (HepG2) cells. The results showed that Hispidulin induced cell death in a dose- and time-dependent manner in HepG2 cells whereas no toxic reaction was observed in normal human liver cells at indicated concentration. This study also demonstrated that Hispidulin induces apoptosis through mitochondrial dysfunction, which is characterized by decreased Bcl-2/Bax ratio, disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential and increased release of cytochrome C and activated capase-3. Our results also showed that mitochondrial dysfunction was triggered by Hispidulin-induced excessive ROS generation. Hispidulin also significantly inhibited Akt activation. ROS inhibitor NAC abrogated the inhibitory effect of Hispidulin on P13k/Akt signalling pathway and the proapoptotic effect in HepG2 cells. Our results demonstrate for the first time that Hispidulin induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells and suggested that the pro-apoptotic effect of Hispidulin was mediated through mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibition of P13k/Akt signalling pathway. Since no toxic effect was observed when normal liver cells were treated with Hispidulin, Hispidulin may have the potential to be used as therapeutic for liver cancer.     

Current Perspectives for Management of Acute Respiratory Insufficiency in Premature Infants with Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Current perspectives for management of acute respiratory insufficiency in premature infants with acute respiratory syndrome and the pathology of acute respiratory insufficiency in the preterm infant, including the current therapy modalities on disposition are presented. Since the therapeutical challenge and primary clinical goal are to normalize ventilation ratio and lung perfusion, when respiratory insufficiency occurs, it is very important to introduce the respiratory support as soon possible, in order to reduce development of pulmonary cyanosis and edema, and intrapulmonary or intracardial shunts. A characteristic respiratory instability that reflects through fluctuations in gas exchange and ventilation is often present in premature infants. Adapting the respiratory support on a continuous basis to the infant’s needs is challenging and not always effective. Although a large number of ventilation strategies for the neonate are available, there is a need for additional consensus on management of acute respiratory distress syndrome in pediatric population lately redefined by Berlin definition criteria, in order to efficiently apply various modes of respiratory support in daily pediatrician clinical use.     

人白细胞介素18的基因克隆与表达

人白细胞介素１８（ＩＬ－１８）是新近发现的细胞因子之一．研究表明它参与Ｔ１辅助细胞介导的细胞免疫．利用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ技术从人外周血细胞扩增得到了ＩＬ－１８的ｃＤＮＡ并测定其核酸序列．利用基因重组技术构建ＩＬ－１８的表达载体,并在大肠杆菌中进行了表达．这为以后进一步研究ＩＬ－１８的功能奠定了基础．     

LncRNA-135528 inhibits tumor progression by up-regulating CXCL10 through the JAK/STAT pathway

Spontaneous tumor regression can be observed in many tumors, however, studies related to the altered expression of lncRNA in spontaneous glioma regression are limited, and the potential contributions of lncRNAs to spontaneous glioma regression remain unknown. To investigate the biological roles of lncRNA-135528 in spontaneous glioma regression. The cDNA fragment of lncRNA-135528 was obtained by rapid-amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technology and cloned into the plvx-mcmv-zsgreen-puro vector. Additionally, we stably silenced or overexpressed lncRNA-135528 in G422 cells by transfecting with siRNA against lncRNA-135528 or lncRNA-135528 overexpression plasmid. Then, we examined lncRNA-135528 overexpressing and lncRNA-135528 silencing on glioma cells and its effects on CXCL10 and JAK/STAT pathways. The main findings indicated that lncRNA-135528 promoted glioma cell apoptosis, inhibited cell proliferation and arrested cell cycle progression; the up-regulation of lncRNA135528 led to significantly increased CXCL10 levels and the differential expression of mRNA associated with JAK/STAT pathway in glioma cells. lncRNA-135528 can inhibit tumor progression by up-regulating CXCL10 through the JAK/STAT pathway.     

Bacterial pathogen phytosensing in transgenic tobacco and Arabidopsis plants

Plants are subject to attack by a wide range of phytopathogens. Current pathogen detection methods and technologies are largely constrained to those occurring post‐symptomatically. Recent efforts were made to generate plant sentinels (phytosensors) that can be used for sensing and reporting pathogen contamination in crops. Engineered phytosensors indicating the presence of plant pathogens as early‐warning sentinels potentially have tremendous utility as wide‐area detectors. We previously showed that synthetic promoters containing pathogen and/or defence signalling inducible cis‐acting regulatory elements (RE) fused to a fluorescent protein (FP) reporter could detect phytopathogenic bacteria in a transient phytosensing system. Here, we further advanced this phytosensing system by developing stable transgenic tobacco and Arabidopsis plants containing candidate constructs. The inducibility of each synthetic promoter was examined in response to biotic (bacterial pathogens) or chemical (plant signal molecules salicylic acid, ethylene and methyl jasmonate) treatments using stably transgenic plants. The treated plants were visualized using epifluorescence microscopy and quantified using spectrofluorometry for FP synthesis upon induction. Time‐course analyses of FP synthesis showed that both transgenic tobacco and Arabidopsis plants were capable to respond in predictable ways to pathogen and chemical treatments. These results provide insights into the potential applications of transgenic plants as phytosensors and the implementation of emerging technologies for monitoring plant disease outbreaks in agricultural fields.     

A Fully Verified Theoretical Analysis of Contact‐Mode Triboelectric Nanogenerators as a Wearable Power Source

Harvesting mechanical energy from human activities by triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) is an effective approach for sustainable, maintenance‐free, and green power source for wireless, portable, and wearable electronics. A theoretical model for contact‐mode triboelectric nanogenerators based on the principles of charge conservation and zero loop‐voltage is illustrated. Explicit expressions for the output current, voltage, and power are presented for the TENGs with an external load of resistance. Experimental verification is conducted by using a laboratory‐fabricated contact‐mode TENG made from conducting fabric electrodes and polydimethylsiloxane/graphene oxide composite as the dielectric layer. Excellent agreements of the output voltage, current, and power are demonstrated between the theoretical and experimental results, without any adjustable parameters. The effects of the moving speed on output voltage, current, and power are illustrated in three cases, that is, the motion with constant speed, the sinusoidal motion cycles, and the real walking cycles by human subject. The fully verified theoretical model is a very powerful tool to guide the design of the device structure and selection of materials, and optimization of performance with respect to the application conditions of TENGs.     

松花江流域沿江重点监控企业水环境潜在污染风险分析

为防控松花江流域水污染风险、优化流域内沿江产业带布局,分析了松花江流域沿江企业潜在污染风险的大小和分布,并揭示导致不同区域间水环境潜在污染风险空间差异的原因。基于《2012年废水国家重点监控企业名单》,本研究将沿松花江(到三级支流)1 km范围内的45家重点废水产生企业识别为松花江流域水环境潜在污染风险源。以沿江企业和重点区域的废水产生量与对应河段的水质状况表征水环境潜在污染风险源强弱与流域水体对潜在污染风险的缓冲能力,并以区域总人口数、第二产业产值及珍稀濒危物种分布情况反映流域社会-经济-自然复合生态系统对潜在污染风险的敏感程度开展评价。结果表明:牡丹江市辖区(牡丹江中游河段)因潜在污染风险源强、水体对潜在污染风险的缓冲能力低且自然生态系统对潜在污染风险的敏感程度高,是松花江流域受沿江企业产生的水环境潜在污染风险最严重的地区;长春市辖区(饮马河、伊通河部分河段)、伊春市辖区(汤旺河全部河段)与敦化市(海浪河全部河段、牡丹江部分河段)由于较低的水体缓冲能力和较高的生态系统敏感程度,应加强水环境潜在污染风险的防治;污染风险源强的吉林市辖区(西流松花江部分河段)与七台河市辖区(倭肯河部分河段),须提高本区域对潜在污染的风险管理能力以降低污染事故发生的可能性。最后,针对不同行业类型、区域潜在污染特点与水污染风险特征,从加快污水处理研究、评估污染治理经济手段、建立产业准入机制及完善污染防治立法等多方面提出流域水环境污染风险管控的相关建议。     

工业生态学研究足迹迁移——基于Citespace II的分析

由于工业发展与环境关系愈发恶化,可持续发展问题日益突出,有必要通过回顾工业生态学研究来寻找理论指导。利用引文空间分析工具Citespace Ⅱ,通过绘制工业生态学知识图谱,以定量与定性结合方法,系统梳理国内外工业生态学研究成果,挖掘工业生态学的知识基础、发展脉络和研究热点。研究发现:工业生态学是一门交叉性学科,涉及环境科学、生态学、管理学和经济学;生态工业园仍为工业发展重要方向,需要结合生态系统理论与工业流程重构对其加以改善;城市、农业、共生成为当前研究热点;生命周期评估、投入产出分析和工业代谢仍为重要分析工具;我国工业生态问题将成为未来关注重点。     

宁夏引黄灌区秸秆还田对麦田土壤硝态氮淋失的影响

以宁夏引黄灌区为例,探索秸秆还田条件下冬小麦土壤硝态氮淋失规律。试验设置常规施肥(CK)、常规施肥条件下施用4500kg/hm2(T1,半量还田)和9000 kg/hm2(T2,全量还田)秸秆3个处理。利用树脂芯法吸附10、20、30、60cm和90cm土层的硝态氮流失量。结果表明:硝态氮(纯N)淋失量6.26—12.85 kg/hm2,是冬小麦施用化肥氮量的2.78%—5.71%。与对照CK相比,T1和T2在10cm土层减少0.09%和3.97%;20cm土层减少8.51%和9.81%;30cm土层减少2.25%和10.34%;60cm土层减少23.85%和13.08%;90cm土层减少27.65%和20.73%。10cm和20cm土层,处理与对照以及处理之间均未到显著性差异(P0.05);30cm处理,T1与CK以及T1与T2未达到显著性差异,但T2与CK达到显著性差异表明全量还田效果最好;60cm土层,处理与对照、以及处理之间均达到显著性差异;90cm土层,处理与对照之间达到显著性差异,处理之间未达到显著性差异。硝态氮淋失主要发生在冬小麦返青至灌浆期间,占全生育期淋失量的52.95%—67.79%。T1、T2冬小麦产量增产率分别为10.11%与11.51%。可见,稻秆还田能够减少灌区土壤硝态氮淋失量。     

Broadening the versatility of lentiviral vectors as a tool in nucleic acid research via genetic code expansion

With the aim of broadening the versatility of lentiviral vectors as a tool in nucleic acid research, we expanded the genetic code in the propagation of lentiviral vectors for site-specific incorporation of chemical moieties with unique properties. Through systematic exploration of the structure–function relationship of lentiviral VSVg envelope by site-specific mutagenesis and incorporation of residues displaying azide- and diazirine-moieties, the modifiable sites on the vector surface were identified, with most at the PH domain that neither affects the expression of envelope protein nor propagation or infectivity of the progeny virus. Furthermore, via the incorporation of such chemical moieties, a variety of fluorescence probes, ligands, PEG and other functional molecules are conjugated, orthogonally and stoichiometrically, to the lentiviral vector. Using this methodology, a facile platform is established that is useful for tracking virus movement, targeting gene delivery and detecting virus–host interactions. This study may provide a new direction for rational design of lentiviral vectors, with significant impact on both basic research and therapeutic applications.