MicroRNA-30c attenuates fibrosis progression and vascular dysfunction in systemic sclerosis model mice

Molecular Biology Reports - Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by peripheral circulatory disturbance and fibrosis in skin and visceral organs. We recently demonstrated that...     

Consumer-driven nutrient release to the water by a small omnivorous fish enhanced ramet production but reduced the growth rate of the submerged macrophyte Vallisneria denseserrulata (Makino) Makino

Small fish are highly associated with submerged macrophytes but may potentially hamper their growth due to nutrient excretion that stimulate growth of phytoplankton and periphyton growth. We conducted a mesocosm experiment to elucidate the effects of the small omnivore Chinese bitterling Acheilognathus macropterus on the growth of phytoplankton, periphyton and the submerged macrophyte Vallisneria denseserrulata. The treatments were fishless as well as low (LF) and high (HF) fish density. We found that the concentrations of nutrients and the phytoplankton biomass increased substantially in both fish treatments, leading to a significantly higher light attenuation compared with the control. Moreover, bitterling substantially enhanced the biomass of periphyton on plant leaves. Consequently, the relative growth rate (RGR) of V. denseserrulata was significantly suppressed in HF, while RGR in the LF treatment did not differ significantly from the controls. However, the bitterling also stimulated the ramet production of V. denseserrulata, significantly. Our results indicate that Chinese bitterling reduce the RGR of V. denseserrulata under high fish density condition. Therefore, the density of Chinese bitterling should be kept low in order to reduce the negative effects of the fish on the RGR of submerged macrophytes (e.g. V. denseserrulata), when restoring lakes by plant transplantation.

     

Recordings from neuron–HEK cell cocultures reveal the determinants of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents

Spontaneous exocytosis of single synaptic vesicles generates miniature synaptic currents, which provide a window into the dynamic control of synaptic transmission. To resolve the impact of different factors on the dynamics and variability of synaptic transmission, we recorded miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) from cocultures of mouse hippocampal neurons with HEK cells expressing the postsynaptic proteins GluA2, neuroligin 1, PSD-95, and stargazin. Synapses between neurons and these heterologous cells have a molecularly defined postsynaptic apparatus, while the compact morphology of HEK cells eliminates the distorting effect of dendritic filtering. HEK cells in coculture produced mEPSCs with a higher frequency, larger amplitude, and more rapid rise and decay than neurons from the same culture. However, mEPSC area indicated that nerve terminals in synapses with both neurons and HEK cells release similar populations of vesicles. Modulation by the glutamate receptor ligand aniracetam revealed receptor contributions to mEPSC shape. Dendritic cable effects account for the slower mEPSC rise in neurons, whereas the slower decay also depends on other factors. Lastly, expression of synaptobrevin transmembrane domain mutants in neurons slowed the rise of HEK cell mEPSCs, thus revealing the impact of synaptic fusion pores. In summary, we show that cocultures of neurons with heterologous cells provide a geometrically simplified and molecularly defined system to investigate the time course of synaptic transmission and to resolve the contribution of vesicles, fusion pores, dendrites, and receptors to this process.     

Current Status of Human Papillomavirus-Related Head and Neck Cancer: From Viral Genome to Patient Care

Virologica Sinica - Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection identified as a definitive human carcinogen is increasingly being recognized for its role in carcinogenesis of human cancers. Up to...     

蛹虫草组学研究进展

作为虫草属的模式种,蛹虫草是目前虫草类真菌中研究和应用最为广泛的物种之一。随着基因组序列的公布,蛹虫草组学水平的研究近年来取得了明显的进展。本文从基因组、线粒体基因组、甲基化组、转录组、蛋白质组、代谢网络等角度对蛹虫草组学水平的研究现状进行综述,期望对进一步推动蛹虫草的深入研究提供帮助。     

宫颈癌放疗患者生活质量的影响因素及与应对方式的关系研究

目的:探讨宫颈癌放疗患者生活质量的影响因素及与应对方式的关系。方法:选取2018年7月2019年11月期间我院收治的宫颈癌放疗患者139例,收集患者临床资料,采用癌症治疗功能评价系统中的宫颈癌量表(FACT-Cx)对宫颈癌患者的生活质量进行评分,采用Jalowiec的应对量表(JCS)记录并评估所有患者的应对方式,并采用Pearson相关性分析生活质量与应对方式的关系。采用单因素及多因素Logistic回归分析宫颈癌放疗患者生活质量的影响因素。结果:宫颈癌放疗患者的FACT-Cx总分与面对、乐观、姑息、依靠自我应对方式评分呈正相关(P<0.05),与情感宣泄、宿命应对方式评分呈负相关(P<0.05),与逃避、支持应对方式评分无相关性(P>0.05)。不同文化程度、年龄、化疗、肿瘤病理类型情况患者之间FACT-Cx总分比较无统计学差异(P>0.05);不同家庭月收入、肿瘤分期、下肢水肿情况、婚姻状况患者之间FACT-Cx总分比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,家庭月收入、肿瘤分期、下肢水肿情况、婚姻状况均是宫颈癌放疗患者生活质量的影响因素(P<0.05)。结论:宫颈癌放疗患者生活质量与应对方式存在密切联系,且家庭月收入、肿瘤分期、下肢水肿情况、婚姻状况均是其生活质量的影响因素,临床工作者应结合以上因素对患者放疗方案给予针对性调整。     

Leptin gene-targeted editing in ob/ob mouse adipose tissue based on the CRISPR/Cas9 system

Gene therapy has become the most effective treatment for monogenic diseases. Congenital LEPTIN deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive monogenic obesity syndrome caused by mutations in the Leptin gene. Ob/ob mouse is a monogenic obesity model, which carries a homozygous point mutation of C to T in Exon 2 of the Leptin gene. Here, we attempted to edit the mutated Leptin gene in ob/ob mice preadipocytes and inguinal adipose tissues using CRISPR/Cas9 to correct the C to T mutation and restore the production of LEPTIN protein by adipocytes. The edited preadipocytes exhibit a correction of 5.5% of Leptin alleles and produce normal LEPTIN protein when differentiated into mature adipocytes. The ob/ob mice display correction of 1.67% of Leptin alleles, which is sufficient to restore the production and physiological functions of LEPTIN protein, such as suppressing appetite and alleviating insulin resistance. Our study suggests CRISPR/Cas9-mediated in situ genome editing as a feasible therapeutic strategy for human monogenic diseases, and paves the way for further research on efficient delivery system in potential future clinical application.     

一株中温淀粉酶菌株的分离鉴定及其产酶条件分析

利用固体淀粉筛选培养基,从安阳市郊区面粉厂附近的土壤里分离筛选出1株产淀粉酶的菌株,编号为MF-3-2.经过菌株形态、革兰氏染色、16S rDNA鉴定及系统进化树分析,初步确定其为枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis).摇瓶培养后对其酶学性质研究发现,该菌株淀粉酶的最适温度为65℃,最适pH值为6.0,在pH值4.8～6.0范围内仍能残余70％以上的酶活力.该菌株的最适生长温度为40℃,最适生长pH值为6.5.产酶条件优化结果表明:最适碳源为马铃薯淀粉,最适氮源为豆粕粉,最适碳氮比为1∶15,发酵温度30℃,发酵pH值6.0,装液量10％,种龄10h,接种量5％,转速200 r/min,48 h达到产酶高峰.通过发酵产酶条件优化,其淀粉酶活性达到86.8 U/mL,是优化前的35倍.另外,在酸性条件下还具有较好的活性.因此,该菌株的淀粉酶具有潜在的工业应用前景.