Mechanistic studies of perfluorooctane sulfonate, perfluorooctanoic acid uptake by maize (Zea mays L. cv. TY2)

Aims

There is a need to predict trace metal concentration in plant organs at given development stages. The aim of this work was to describe the Cd hyperaccumulation kinetics in the different plant organs, throughout the complete cultivation cycle, independently of a possible soil effect.

Methods

Plants of Noccaea caerulescens were exposed in aeroponics to three constantly low Cd concentrations and harvested at 6 to 11 dates, until siliquae formation.

Results

Dry matter allocation between roots and shoots was constant over time and exposure concentrations, as well as Cd allocation. However 86 % of the Cd taken up was allocated to the shoots. Senescent rosette leaves showed similar Cd concentrations to the living ones, suggesting no redistribution from old to young organs. The Cd root influx was proportional to the exposure concentration and constant over time, indicating that plant development had no effect on this. The bio-concentration factor (BCF), i.e. [Cd]_plant/[Cd²⁺]_solution for the whole plant, roots or shoots was independent of the exposure concentration and of the plant stage.

Conclusions

Cadmium uptake in a given plant part could therefore be predicted at any plant stage by multiplying the plant part dry matter by the corresponding BCF and the Cd²⁺ concentration in the exposure solution.     

Administration of signalling molecules dictates stem cell homing for in situ regeneration

Ex vivo‐expanded stem cells have long been a cornerstone of biotherapeutics and have attracted increasing attention for treating intractable diseases and improving tissue regeneration. However, using exogenous cellular materials to develop restorative treatments for large numbers of patients has become a major concern for both economic and safety reasons. Advances in cell biological research over the past two decades have expanded the potential for using endogenous stem cells during wound healing processes, and in particular, recent insight into stem cell movement and homing has prompted regenerative research and therapy based on recruiting endogenous cells. Inspired by the natural healing process, artificial administration of specific chemokines as signals systemically or at the injury site, typically using biomaterials as vehicles, is a state‐of‐the‐art strategy that potentiates stem cell homing and recreates an anti‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory microenvironment to enhance in situ tissue regeneration. However, pharmacologically coaxing endogenous stem cells to act as therapeutics in the field of biomedicine remains in the early stages; its efficacy is limited by the lack of innovative methodologies for chemokine presentation and release. This review describes how to direct the homing of endogenous stem cells via the administration of specific signals, with a particular emphasis on targeted signalling molecules that regulate this homing process, to enhance in situ tissue regeneration. We also provide an outlook on and critical considerations for future investigations to enhance stem cell recruitment and harness the reparative potential of these recruited cells as a clinically relevant cell therapy.     

Detection and characterization of three zoonotic viruses in wild rodents and shrews from Shenzhen city,China

Diverse species of rodents and shrews, which are abundant worldwide, harbor a variety of viruses;some of these are closely related to human viruses and possess zoonotic potential. Previously studies have demonstrated that the mammarenavirus and hantavirus carried by rodents or shrews could cause diseases in human population. To determine the distribution of zoonotic viruses in Shenzhen city, the major city in southern China with a high population density, we analyzed 225 rodents(Rattus norvegicus and Rattus flavipectus) and 196 shrews(Suncus murinus) from urban and rural districts for the presence of mammarenavirus, hantavirus, and hepatitis E virus(HEV) by RT-PCR targeting the conserved regions. The infection rates for mammarenavirus, hantaviruses,and HEV in rodents and shrews were 3.56%, 6.89%, and 1.66%, respectively. Partial genome fragment analysis indicated that mammarenavirus and hantavirus strains had more than 90% and 99% nucleic acid identity with Cardamones virus and Seoul virus, respectively, which cause diseases in humans. Although the present HEV strains identified are typically found worldwide,phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a divergence of 16%. To our knowledge, the present work is the first report of the prevalence of mammarenavirus, hantaviruses, and rat HEV strains in rodents and shrews from Shenzhen city, China. Our findings highlight the zoonotic potential of rodent-and shrew-borne mammarenavirus and hantavirus, and the biodiversity of rat HEV isolates in Shenzhen city. The present work suggests that utilization of good hygiene habits is important to minimize the risk of zoonosis.     

西安市某医院成人与儿童血清25羟基维生素D水平的研究

目的:比较西安市某医院不同年龄段的成人与儿童血清25羟基维生素D(25-OH-VD)水平,并探讨其水平与年龄之间的关系。方法:收集2017年1月-2018年1月西安高新医院检测血清25-OH-VD的2116例样本,比较成人与儿童血清中25-OH-VD水平的差异,分析成人与儿童血清中25-OH-VD水平与年龄之间的关系。结果:儿童组健康人群、低水平人群血清25-OH-VD水平均高于成人组(P0.05);儿童组健康人群、低水平人群血清25-OH-VD水平与年龄呈负相关(P0.05),成人组健康人群血清25-OH-VD水平与年龄呈正相关(P0.05)。结论:西安市某医院的儿童血清25-OH-VD水平高于成人,且成人与儿童的血清25-OH-VD水平与年龄存在一定的关系,有必要建立不同的参考区间,为临床诊治提供更精确的依据。     

西黑冠长臂猿雄性取代前后鸣叫行为的变化

本文通过长时间的野外监测,首次报道了西黑冠长臂猿的一次雄性取代行为。一个研究群体(G3)中的1 只亚成年雄性长臂猿在10 岁左右取代了相邻群体(G2)中的成年雄性。整个取代过程持续了15 d时间。雄性取代发生前,G2 中雌雄的配对关系已经不稳固,这为雄性取代提供了机会。而G2 与G3 群的一次长时间冲突可能消耗了G2 中成年雄性大量体能,这为G3 中的亚成年雄性打败并取代G2 中的成年雄性创造了机会。本研究在取代发生后,对新形成群体的鸣叫行为进行了连续4 个月的监测。结果表明与处于稳定时期的G2 群相比,新形成群体的鸣叫频次更高,但每次二重唱中雌性的平均激动鸣叫次数降低。这证明了Geissmann (1986)提出的假说,新配对的群体应该在尽量短的时间内多练习二重唱,这样导致新配对群体的鸣叫频率明显升高。虽然经历了4 个月的合唱练习,新形成群体的激动鸣叫次数仍然偏低,并且两只雌性同时激动鸣叫的频次也比较低。这说明新形成的配对之间配合依然不默契,或者说明配对之间的关系还不稳定。     

参芪扶正注射液对急性淋巴细胞白血病化疗患者造血和免疫功能的影响

目的:观察参芪扶正注射液对急性淋巴细胞白血病化疗患者造血及免疫功能的影响。方法:收集96例处于初治诱导缓解治疗阶段的急性淋巴细胞白血病患者,并将其随机分为治疗组和对照组。治疗组48例患者在进行常规化疗的同时给予参芪扶正注射液250 m L,1次/天,共28天;对照组48例患者仅接受常规化疗,两组患者均给予相同的支持对症治疗。治疗结束后,观察两组患者的疾病缓解率、治疗前后造血系统、T和B淋巴细胞亚群的变化情况。结果:化疗结束后,治疗组患者的疾病缓解率为89.6%,对照组为83.3%,两组比较无统计学差异(P0.05);化疗14天及化疗结束后1周,治疗组患者的白细胞、红细胞计数和血红蛋白水平明显高于对照组(P0.05);且化疗结束后1周,治疗组患者的CD3+、CD4+及CD4+/CD8+含量均明显高于对照组(P0.05)。而两组患者治疗前后的血小板计数、CD3-CD19+含量比较均不具有统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:参芪扶正注射液辅助治疗不仅能够改善化疗所致的急性淋巴细胞白血病患者的骨髓抑制,而且能够提高其细胞免疫功能,有助于患者化疗后的恢复。     

亚砷酸钠对胰岛β细胞的Nrf2及其调控的抗氧化酶表达的影响

目的检测亚砷酸钠对小鼠胰岛B细胞的核转录因子Nrf2及其调控的抗氧化酶硫氧还蛋白（Srx）,y-谷氨酰半胱氨酸连接酶催化亚基（Gele）表达的影响。方法应用2、4、6、8、10t2mol／L亚砷酸钠（NaAs02）作用MIN6细胞6h,通过WesternBlot检测Nrf2蛋白表达;利用Real—timePCR检测抗氧化酶Srx、Oclc的mRNA表达。结果4／μmol／L亚砷酸钠染毒6h后,Nrf2的蛋白表达显著增高,并随着亚砷酸钠剂量的增大,Nrf2蛋白表达也随之增多。抗氧化酶Srx、GelcmRNA在2μmol／L亚砷酸钠染毒6h后开始出现明显的诱导表达,并随亚砷酸钠剂量的增加而表达增强。结论亚砷酸钠能诱导小鼠胰岛B细胞Nrf2蛋白及其调控的抗氧化酶Srx和Gclc基因的表达,并存在显著地剂量依赖性。