Potent angiogenic inhibition effects of deacetylated chitohexaose separated from chitooligosaccharides and its mechanism of action in vitro

This study was performed to demonstrate the effects of deacetylated chitohexaose (hexamer) separated from a chitooligosaccharide (COS) mixture on tumor angiogenesis and its mechanism of action. Five fractions from dimer to hexamer were separated by a linear gradient solution of HCl on a cation-exchange resin. Then HCl was removed from the fractions by a charcoal column. The purity of the five fractions was analyzed by HPLC and the molecular masses were analyzed by MALDI-TOFMS. The hexamer expressed an inhibitory influence on CAM angiogenesis in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 6.25-50 μg/egg. On further investigation, we found that the hexamer had no toxic effect on normal ECV304 cells, but could inhibit the proliferation and migration of tumor-induced ECV304 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The mechanism was demonstrated through the detection of mRNA expression of VEGF, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and uPA by RT-PCR, which showed that the hexamer down-regulated the VEGF and uPA mRNA expressions in ECV304 cells, but up-regulated the TIMP-1 mRNA expression.     

Prevalence of Age-Related Cataract in High-Selenium Areas of China

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of age-related cataract in high-selenium areas of China. This is a cross-sectional study of 1,522 persons aged 50 years and more who were selected as a representative sample from the Enshi prefecture in Hubei province. All lenses were graded and classified for opacities by slit lamp after papillary dilation, using the Lens Opacification Classification System II. The age-related cataract patients were 418 cases (33.28%). The prevalence of age-related cataract was 37.2% in women and 26.0% in men. The prevalence of nuclear cataract was 23.7%; cortical cataract was 22.4% and posterior subcapsule cataract was 5.2%. The prevalence of cataract of the 50–59 group was 13.41%; 60–69 group was 42.15%; 70 and over group was 61.9%. The prevalence of age-related cataract in high-selenium areas has not significantly increased; to some extent, the high selenium intake will not become a risk factor for the increase of cataract incidence.     

盐胁迫下不同树龄枸杞各器官的盐离子分布

以甘肃景泰沿黄灌区栽植的枸杞(Ly cium barbarum L.)为研究对象,研究了盐胁迫下不同树龄枸杞各器官的盐离子分配.结果表明,1~2年生枸杞各器官的K 分布为幼叶>成叶>嫩茎,而3~4年生枸杞为幼果>嫩茎>幼叶>成叶;1~4年生枸杞成叶的N a 含量分别为1.273%、1.414%、0.689%和0.497%;不同年龄枸杞成叶、幼叶、嫩茎和幼果的N a /K 平均值分别为2.425%、1.397%、0.489%和0.301%;随枸杞年龄的增加,根对土壤中N a 、K 的选择吸收比值(SA)逐渐增加.枸杞选择性吸收K 、拒N a 的特性和分配较多N a 、C l-给耐盐性较强的器官(成叶)是枸杞耐盐的重要原因.     

圆柏属常绿木本植物叶片抗氧化系统季节变化与抗冷冻的关系

测定分析圆柏属2种常绿木本植物叶抗氧化系统在冷冻适应过程中的季节变化。结果表明,叶能在组织结冰状况下生存与其具备完善的抗氧化保护系统有关,该系统能及时清除氧自由基、抑制膜脂过氧化、维持膜的完整性;冷适应期积累的活性氧可能诱导了抗氧化保护系统使叶片获得抗冻性。祁连圆柏的抗氧化系统比圆柏在抗冻性诱导中具有更广泛的适应策略。     

联合国教科文组织生命科学伦理学项目实施与法医专业本科生素质教育与专业外语教学创新实践的教学研究

如何最大程度地发挥学校的教学潜能和优势,选择最为有效的教学方法来提高法医专业本科学生的素质能力和专业外语水平,已经成为新形势下高校教学改革的重要内容.本文结合笔者工作实际,讨论开展联合国教科文组织生命科学伦理学项目实施与法医专业本科学生素质教育与专业外语教学创新实践教学研究的相关问题.     

Effects of starvation on growth, survival, and body biochemical composition among different sizes of Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum

A study was conducted to investigate the impact of starvation on different sizes of Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum (0.66 ± 0.11, 2.12 ± 0.38, and 11.65 ± 0.84 mm in shell length, respectively) in the summer of 2008. Different size clams were starved for 7, 15, 30, 45, and 60 d, respectively, and followed by refeeding for 30 d. During the study, the water temperature ranged 26.2–28.4 °C, salinity 22–24‰, and pH 7.80–8.12. Compensatory growth occurred in the smallest size-group after 7 and 15 d of starvation, respectively. The point-of-no-return (PNR₅₀) was determined to be 18.7 d. However, no compensatory growth was noted in the medium size-group, and the PNR₅₀ for this group was 25.2 d. The complete compensatory growth was observed for the largest size-group following food depravation for 7 and 30 d, respectively. In the same group, over-compensatory growth occurred 15 d post-starvation. The PNR₅₀ for the largest size-group was 46.3 d. The survival rate of different groups decreased as the starvation time prolonged. To discuss the change in body biochemical composition of individuals in the process of starvation and refeeding, the biochemical composition of the largest group individuals at different stages was determined. There were no significant differences in moisture and ash concentrations of the largest size-group during starvation and refeeding (P > 0.05). The relative body protein content increased as the starvation period prolonged and the level returned to normal after refeeding. The lipid content of the clam at the end of starvation was significantly lower than the initial level (P < 0.05), and remained below the initial level at end of the refeeding period.     

Physiological Responses of Limonium aureum Seeds to Ultra-drying

The seeds of Limonium aureum （L.） Hill. were dried from 8.92% to 2.88% moisture content in a desiccating container with silica gel. After ultra-drying the seeds were accelerated aged （50 ℃, 1 month）, and some physiological indices, including the electrical conductivity, dehydrogenase activity, superoxide dismutase （SOD）, peroxidase （POD）, glutathione reductase （GR）, ascorbate peroxidase （APX）, catalase （CAT）, volatile aldehydes and malondialdehyde （MDA） were tested. The results indicated that dehydrogenase, POD, SOD, GR, APX and CAT activities of the ultra-dry seeds were higher than the control seeds, while volatile aldehydes and malondialdehyde were lower than the control group. The results suggest that ultra-drying is beneficial for maintaining the vigor of L. aureum seeds at a high level. Thus, L. aureum seeds could be stored under ultra-dry conditions.     

Experimental study of oxidative DNA damage

Animal experiments allow the study of oxidative DNA damage in target organs and the elucidation of dose-response relationships of carcinogenic and other harmful chemicals and conditions as well as the study of interactions of several factors. So far the effects of more than 50 different chemical compounds have been studied in animal experiments mainly in rats and mice, and generally with measurement of 8-oxodG with HPLC-EC. A large number of well-known carcinogens induce 8-oxodG formation in liver and/or kidneys. Moreover several animal studies have shown a close relationship between induction of dative DNA damage and tumour formation.

In principle the level of oxidative DNA damage in an organ or cell may be studied by measurement of modified bases in extracted DNA by immunohistochemical visualisation, and from assays of strand breakage before and after treatment with repair enzymes. However, this level is a balance between the rates of damage and repair. Until the repair rates and capacity can be adequately assessed the rate of damage can only be estimated from the urinary excretion of repair products albeit only as an average of the entire body.

A number of model compounds have been used to induce oxidative DNA damage in experimental animals. The hepatocarcinogen 2-nitropropane induces up to 10-fold increases in 8-oxodG levels in rat liver DNA. The level of 8-oxodG is also increased in kidneys and bone marrow but not in the testis. By means of 2-nitropropane we have shown correspondence between the increases in 8-oxodG in target organs and the urinary excretion of 8-oxodG and between 8-oxodG formation and the comet assay in bone marrow as well potent preventive effects of extracts of Brussels sprouts. Others have shown similar effects of green tea extracts and its components. Drawbacks of the use of 2-nitropropane as a model for oxidative DNA damage relate particularly to formation of 8-aminoguanine derivatives that may interfere with HPLC-EC assays and have unknown consequences. Other model compounds for induction of oxidative DNA damage, such as ferric nitriloacetate, iron dextran, potassium bromate and paraquat, are less potent and/or more organ specific.

Inflammation and activation of an inflammatory response by phorbol esters or E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induce oxidative DNA damage in many target cells and enhance benzene-induced DNA damage in mouse bone marrow.

Experimental studies provide powerful tools to investigate agents inducing and preventing oxidative damage to DNA and its role in carcinogenesis. So far, most animal experiments have concerned 8-oxodG and determination of additional damaged bases should be employed. An ideal animal model for prevention of oxidative DNA damage has yet to he developed.     

中国北方凿姬蜂属(凿姬蜂亚属)的研究(膜翅目:姬蜂科)(英文)

本文报道在我国北方地区发现的凿姬蜂属（凿姬蜂亚属）的种类,共9种,其中3新种：叉凿姬蜂Xorides（X．）furcatussp．nov,采自河南省渑池县;毛凿姬蜂X．（X．）hirtussp．nov,采自辽宁省新宾县;棘凿姬蜂X．（X．）aculeatussp．nov,采自辽宁省新宾县;3中国新记录种：短唇凿姬蜂X．（X）brachylabis（Kriechbaumer1889）、前凿姬蜂X．（X．）praecatorius（Fabricus1973）、隐凿姬蜂X．（X．）sepulchralis（Holmgren1860）;3中国已知种：举凿姬蜂X．（X）erigentisWangetGupta1995,兴安凿姬蜂X．（X．）hingganensisWangetGupta1995,北海道凿姬蜂X．（X．）sapporensis（Uchida1928）。已知的寄主全部为枯木蛀虫。标本保存在林业部森林病虫害防治总站。