Gene and domain duplication in the chordate Otx gene family: insights from amphioxus Otx

We report the genomic organization and deduced protein sequence of a cephalochordate member of the Otx homeobox gene family (AmphiOtx) and show its probable single-copy state in the genome. We also present molecular phylogenetic analysis indicating that there was single ancestral Otx gene in the first chordates which was duplicated in the vertebrate lineage after it had split from the lineage leading to the cephalochordates. Duplication of a C-terminal protein domain has occurred specifically in the vertebrate lineage, strengthening the case for a single Otx gene in an ancestral chordate whose gene structure has been retained in an extant cephalochordate. Comparative analysis of protein sequences and published gene expression patterns suggest that the ancestral chordate Otx gene had roles in patterning the anterior mesendoderm and central nervous system. These roles were elaborated following Otx gene duplication in vertebrates, accompanied by regulatory and structural divergence, particularly of Otx1 descendant genes.      

大鼠子宫内膜异位模型的建立与组织学观察

目的为开发诊治子宫内膜异位症(endometriosis,EMT)的新药研究提供理想的动物模型。方法取雌性未交配性成熟大鼠,术前雌激素诱导,麻醉开腹取部份右侧子宫,将内膜种植于左腹壁内,术后16周取出包块,进行组织形态学、组织化学观察。结果异位内膜在腹壁内生长,呈隆起囊状小包块,内有黏液,具有正常子宫内膜基本组织结构,囊腔较大。异位内膜中有糖原、RNA的存在。结论该手术方法建立的子宫异位内膜生长良好,术后一周就可摸及包块大小,为开发研究子宫内膜异位症的新药提供了方便。     

垂体瘤转化基因1(PTTG1)的表达变化对人前列腺癌细胞LNCaP生长增殖的影响

垂体肿瘤转化基因1(PTTG1)具有促进肿瘤生长和转移的作用.通过上调或下调基因表达的策略,观察PTTG1基因对人前列腺癌细胞株LNCaP细胞生长增殖的影响.利用PCR技术分离出PTTG1全长cDNA,分别正向和反向插入真核表达载体pIRES2-EGFP,重组载体分别命名为正义PTTG1-S/pIRES2-EGFP(即pI-P-S)和反义PTTG1-AS/pIRES2-EGFP(即pI-P-AS),将这两种重组载体稳定转染LNCaP细胞,通过流式细胞仪和MTT法分别检测了细胞周期和细胞增殖的情况.转染正义PTTG1后处于S期和G2期的细胞明显增加,细胞生长增殖能力增强;相反,转染反义PTTG1后处于S期和G2期细胞明显减少,细胞生长增殖能力减弱(P<0.05).结果表明,PTTG1能明显改变人前列腺癌细胞株LNCaP的细胞周期和细胞生长增殖能力,它的异常表达可能参与前列腺癌细胞生长增殖过程.     

4种桦树幼苗耐盐性分析与评价

耐盐植物引种和培育是开发利用盐碱地的主要方式,具有重要的研究价值。本试验以哈萨克斯坦引进的吉尔吉斯白桦（Betula kirghisorum）、欧洲白桦（B.pendula）、毛枝桦（B.pubescens）和本地的白桦（B.platyphylla Suk.）1年生幼苗为试验材料,于2014年7月在东北林业大学进行中性盐（NaCl）和碱性盐（NaHCO₃）的胁迫试验,测定生长量、光合参数和叶绿素含量,并通过因子分析法,对比评价4种桦树幼苗的耐盐碱能力,筛选出综合性状优良的桦树树种,为耐盐植物引种和培育提供有价值的数据。结果表明：随着盐浓度的升高,桦树幼苗的高生长和光合效率受到显著抑制,而当浓度≥0.5%时,大部分幼苗枯死。株高增长量、基径增长量、净光合速率（P_n）、光能利用效率（SUE）、羧化效率（CUE）、表观量子效率（AQY）及叶绿素含量之间的相关性多数达到了显著水平;最后利用因子分析法分别构建了0.1% NaCl、0.3% NaCl、0.1% NaHCO3和0.3% NaHCO₃胁迫处理的综合评价公式,并分别筛选出了综合性状相对优良的单株,其中NaCl胁迫下较优单株为32、33、34、35;NaHCO₃胁迫下较优单株为262、263、264、35。综合比较认为,吉尔吉斯白桦对低中浓度的中性盐的抗性最强,本地对照白桦对低中浓度碱性盐的抗性最强,而吉尔吉斯白桦和毛枝桦对高浓度碱性盐抗性较强。     

西双版纳苦丁茶挥发油的化学成分

苦丁茶为中国南部及西南部的民间传统药用植物,经两千多年的应用和医学临床试验证明,苦丁茶具有清热解毒、抑菌消炎、抗衰老、降血脂、改善血液粘稠度和微循环、清除人体自由基及增强人体免疫能力等功效,被誉为保健茶、美容茶、降压茶和益寿茶[1,2]。苦丁茶来源较复杂,共有5科1     

Evaluation of the prevalence and economic burden of adverse drug reactions presenting to the medical emergency department of a tertiary referral centre: a prospective study

Background  

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are now recognized as an important cause of hospital admissions, with a proportion ranging from 0.9–7.9%. They also constitute a significant economic burden. We thus aimed at determining the prevalence and the economic burden of ADRs presenting to Medical Emergency Department (ED) of a tertiary referral center in India     

双斑蟋若虫后足的再生观察

研究蟋蟀若虫是否具有再生的能力,在实验室内对直翅目蟋蟀科的双斑蟋Gryllus bimaculata de Geer若虫后足的再生情况进行初步观察。结果表明:双斑蟋若虫的后足确实具有再生的能力,且再生足的伸长生长与正常足一样,均出现于虫体蜕皮时。再生的过程主要分为3个阶段:突起期、“肢芽”期、短小足期。实验结果还表明:再生能力与断肢发生的时间及断肢部位有关;断肢部位离肢体越远,再生能力越强;断肢发生的时间越早,再生能力越强。     

绵羊fertilin β基因编码区的钓取与结构分析

Fertilin β与精卵的结合和融合有密切关系。为探讨fertilin β蛋白在绵羊受精过程中的作用机理, 采用RACE技术, 首次钓取了该基因的编码区。结果绵羊fertilin β基因的编码区cDNA全长为2,217 bp。同源性分析显示, 绵羊的fertilin β氨基酸序列与牛、猪和人的fertilin β具有79.4%、66.7%和58.1%的同源性。系统发育分析表明, 绵羊fertilin β与牛属于同一分支, 并且也显示了绵羊和牛分类地位最近, 这和传统的分类一致。Fertilin β蛋白结构域分析显示, 绵羊fertilin β去整合素识别序列为TDE, 与牛的序列相同。除了上述三肽序列外, 紧随X-D/E-E的ECD保守序列, 从而形成了X-D/E-ECD五肽保守序列, 在绵羊fertilin β中该五肽序列为TDECE。     

The JAK–STAT Pathway Is Critical in Ventilator-Induced Diaphragm Dysfunction

Mechanical ventilation (MV) is one of the lynchpins of modern intensive-care medicine and is life saving in many critically ill patients. Continuous ventilator support, however, results in ventilation-induced diaphragm dysfunction (VIDD) that likely prolongs patients’ need for MV and thereby leads to major associated complications and avoidable intensive care unit (ICU) deaths. Oxidative stress is a key pathogenic event in the development of VIDD, but its regulation remains largely undefined. We report here that the JAK–STAT pathway is activated in MV in the human diaphragm, as evidenced by significantly increased phosphorylation of JAK and STAT. Blockage of the JAK–STAT pathway by a JAK inhibitor in a rat MV model prevents diaphragm muscle contractile dysfunction (by ~85%, p < 0.01). We further demonstrate that activated STAT3 compromises mitochondrial function and induces oxidative stress in vivo, and, interestingly, that oxidative stress also activates JAK–STAT. Inhibition of JAK–STAT prevents oxidative stress-induced protein oxidation and polyubiquitination and recovers mitochondrial function in cultured muscle cells. Therefore, in ventilated diaphragm muscle, activation of JAK–STAT is critical in regulating oxidative stress and is thereby central to the downstream pathogenesis of clinical VIDD. These findings establish the molecular basis for the therapeutic promise of JAK–STAT inhibitors in ventilated ICU patients.     

腺花香茶菜中的对映-贝壳杉烯类二萜化合物

从昆明产腺花香茶菜(Isodon adenanthus (Diels) Kudo)的地上部分分离到8个化合物,通过波谱分析鉴定,化合物1-3为新的对映-贝壳杉烯类二萜化合物,命名为腺花香茶菜素N、0和P;4个已知二萜为白叶香茶菜戊素(4)、无毛狭叶香茶菜素C(5)、腺花香茶菜甲素(6)和白叶香茶菜乙素(7),同时得到一个高度不饱和脂肪酸9,16-二羰基-10,12,14-三烯-十八碳酸(8)。根据ROESY波谱,对化合物4的结构进行了修正。化合物1对K562细胞显示出明显的细胞毒活性(IC50=0．45μg／mL)。