Effects of Different Ambient Temperatures on Caecal Microbial Composition in Broilers

Short-term or acute temperature stress affect the immune responses and alters the gut microbiota of broilers, but the influences of long-term temperature stress on stress biomarkers and the intestinal microbiota remains largely unknown. Therefore, we examined the effect of three long-term ambient temperatures (high (HC), medium (MC), and low (LC) temperature groups) on the gene expression of broilers’ heat shock proteins (Hsps) and inflammation – related genes, as well as the caecal microbial composition. The results revealed that Hsp70 and Hsp90 levels in HC group significantly increased, and levels of Hsp70, Hsp90, IL-6, TNF-α, and NFKB1 in LC group were significantly higher than in MC group (p < 0.05). In comparison with the MC group, the proportion of Firmicutes increased in HC and LC groups, while that of Bacteroidetes decreased in LC group at phylum level (p < 0.05). At genus level, the proportion of Escherichia/Shigella, Phascolarctobacterium, Parabacteroides,and Enterococcus increased in HC group; the fraction of Faecalibacterium was higher in LC group; and the percentage of Barnesiella and Alistipes decreased in both HC and LC groups (p < 0.05). Functional analysis based on communities’ phylogenetic investigation revealed that the pathways involved in environmental information processing and metabolism were enriched in the HC group. Those involved in cellular processes and signaling, metabolism, and gene regulation were enriched in LC group. Hence, we conclude that the long-term temperature stress can greatly alter the intestinal microbial communities in broilers and may further affect the host’s immunity and health.     

Combination of Intratumoral Invariant Natural Killer T Cells and Interferon-Gamma Is Associated with Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Curative Resection

Purpose

To investigate the prognostic value of intratumoral invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative resection.

Experimental Design

Expression of TRAV10, encoding the Vα24 domain of iNKT cells, and IFN-γ mRNA were assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in tumor from 224 HCC patients undergoing curative resection. The prognostic value of these two and other clinicopathologic factors was evaluated.

Results

Either intratumoral iNKT cells and IFN-γ alone or their combination was an independent prognostic factor for OS (P = 0.001) and RFS (P = 0.001) by multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis. Patients with concurrent low levels of iNKT cells and IFN-γ had a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.784 for OS and 2.673 for RFS. The areas under the curve of iNKT cells, IFN-γand their combination were 0.618 vs 0.608 vs 0.654 for death and 0.591 vs 0.604 vs 0.633 for recurrence respectively by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The prognosis was the worst for HCC patients with concurrent low levels of iNKT cells and IFN-γ, which might be related with more advanced pTNM stage and more vascular invasion.

Conclusions

Combination of intratumoral iNKT cells and IFN-γ is a promising independent predictor for recurrence and survival in HCC, which has a better power to predict HCC patients’ outcome compared with intratumoral iNKT cells or IFN-γ alone.     

灌浆结实期温度对水稻产量和品质形成的影响

灌浆结实期是水稻产量和品质形成的关键时期,该时期温度对水稻籽粒灌浆具有显著的影响.随着全球气候趋暖以及极端天气频发,温度胁迫下籽粒灌浆和稻米品质的响应特征及其生理生化机制是目前稻作研究的热点之一.本文以灌浆结实期温度为切入点,对水稻产量和品质形成的适宜温度与温度影响时段以及温度胁迫下水稻生理生化特征等方面进行了梳理.灌浆初期(齐穗后20 d)是温度影响水稻产量和品质形成的关键时期,适温(21 ～ 26℃)有利于水稻灌浆和淀粉的充实与沉积,过高或过低温度均不利于提高水稻产量和品质.温度胁迫下,水稻生理生化活性下降,光合功能降低,抗逆性减弱,干物质积累和运转受抑,从而造成产量下降及品质变劣.这些可能为水稻优质高产栽培和灌浆结实期温度研究提供一定的参考.     

体外培养小鼠下颌下腺细胞生长特性的实验研究

目的：研究小鼠下颌下腺细胞的培养方法,探讨下颌下腺细胞培养条件及细胞生长特性,为研究干细胞转分化涎腺腺泡细胞以及涎腺再生研究奠定理论基础和技术支持。方法：取2周龄的小鼠,组织块法和消化法分别进行培养,用活细胞观察法和HE染色法记录细胞形态学特征;免疫荧光染色法鉴定;通过生长曲线和细胞倍增时间来比较两种方法对细胞增殖能力的影响。结果：组织块法和消化法均可以成功的培养下颌下腺细胞,（1）组织块法培养的细胞呈卵圆形或多边形,10天左右成铺路石样;消化法培养细胞亦为上皮样细胞,呈多边形,胞质丰富;（2）HE染色下颌下腺细胞呈多边形,胞核明显;（3）Cytokeratin13和AQP5表达阳性,Wimentin表达阴性;（4）组织块法培养细胞增殖相对较平缓,消化法培养细胞增长较迅速;（5）消化法培养倍增时间（1．3471±0．6071）天比组织块法倍增时间（2．1887±1．1503）明显缩短（P〈0．05）;结论：体外可以成功的培养下颌下腺细胞,但是同时证明下颌下腺细胞长期传代较困难,这为研究干细胞转分化涎腺细胞和涎腺再生体内实验提供了理论和实验基础。     

水杨酸对大花三色堇幼苗耐热性的影响

大花三色堇性喜冷凉、忌酷热。该研究以大花三色堇3个自交系08H 、HAR 和 E01为材料,分别测定了40℃高温处理4、8和12 h 时不同基因型大花三色堇幼苗的生理指标,以及不同浓度(0.1、1、2 mmol?L-1)水杨酸预处理对热胁迫下大花三色堇幼苗耐热性的影响。结果表明：在高温胁迫下大花三色堇电解质外渗量增加,随着处理时间的延长,电解质外渗更多,可溶性糖含量先增加后降低,POD 酶活性先提高后降低;与其他2个自交系相比,HAR 表现出较好的耐热性,其可溶性糖含量、POD 酶活性的增加均较高,而电解质外渗率偏低;与对照相比,3种浓度 SA 预处理均显著降低了大花三色堇幼苗的电解质外渗率,增加了幼苗体内可溶性糖含量,提高了大花三色堇的幼苗体内脯氨酸含量和 POD 酶活性;其中1 mmol?L-1的 SA 预处理对高温胁迫下大花三色堇幼苗体内可溶性糖的含量增加最高,最大程度减缓幼苗体内的电解质外渗量,08H 和 HAR 的脯氨酸含量和 POD 酶活性达到最大值。而对 E01而言,0.1 mmol?L-1的水杨酸预处理的脯氨酸含量和 POD 酶活性最高。该研究结果探讨了高温胁迫下不同基因型大花三色堇幼苗的生理表现,以及外施水杨酸对增强大花三色堇幼苗耐热性的效果,为大花三色堇抗热栽培提供重要的基础资料。     

小花草玉梅正常和自然变异植株的AP3-3基因研究

野生小花草玉梅(Anemone rivularis var.flore-minore)正常植株和花被片自然变异植株的外观形态差异很大,该研究以二者为材料,利用常规PCR和高效热不对称PCR(Hi-Tail PCR)技术从其正常和变异植株的基因组中各分离得到1个B类基因。序列分析证明,二者隶属于B类MADS-box基因AP3家族的旁系同源基因AP3-3分枝,分别命名为NArAP3-3(正常植株)和VArAP3-3(变异植株)。NArAP3-3基因全长3 795bp,VArAP3-3基因全长3 898bp,二者均含有1个666bp的开放阅读框(ORF),可编码221个氨基酸,具有典型的植物MADS-box基因结构,其编码肽链包含了MADS区、K区、Ⅰ区和C区。对比NArAP3-3和VArAP3-3基因的全长序列,发现VArAP3-3基因比NArAP3-3多了1段49bp的插入,且在ORF序列与NArAP3-3基因相比有4个碱基突变。对二者的全长序列、所编码的221个氨基酸及插入序列的生物信息学分析显示,二者在基因启动子、蛋白质基本性质、结构功能域、二级三级预测结构等方面均有差异,推测这些差异可能是花被片变异产生的原因之一。该研究结果为进一步探索其变异机制奠定了基础。     

诱导多能干细胞在医学方面的应用

2006年,首次报道在体外简单的转录因子就可以使体细胞重编程为多能性细胞。自从这项技术诞生以来,人们为改善诱导多能干细胞(iPSCs)技术做出了巨大努力,发展各种方法用于将重编程因子导入体细胞制备诱导多能干细胞(iPSCs)。诱导多能干细胞(iPSCs)技术彻底改变了人类对疾病发病机制的探索和药物开发的进程。本文简述了诱导多能干细胞的来源及诱导策略、近年来iPSCs在疾病建模、药物研发、再生医学等方面的应用,同时探讨了该技术当前存在的问题,并对未来进行了展望。     

祛痰通阳汤对慢性心衰大鼠心肌损伤的保护作用及机制

目的:观察不同剂量祛痰通阳汤对慢性心衰大鼠心肌损伤的保护作用及可能机制。方法:将90只Wistar大鼠随机均分正常组、模型组、卡托普利组、祛痰通阳汤低、中、高剂量六组。为建立慢性心力衰竭模型,除正常组外的五组大鼠均以2ml/kg给予阿霉素腹腔,一周1次,共6周。注射造模成功后次日进行灌胃给予对应的不同药物,连续给药治疗四周后,应用ELISA法测定各组大鼠血浆脑尿钠肽(Brain natriuretic peptide,BNP)水平,称重计算心脏质量指数并采用投射电镜观察心肌细胞结构,通过实时荧光定量PCR法测定检测Kelch样环氧氯丙烷相关蛋白-1 (epoxy chloropro-pane Kelch sample related protein-1,Keap1)和核因子E2相关因子2(nuclearfactor erythroid-2 related factor 2,Nrf2)mRNA的表达。结果:1.电镜结果显示:正常组肌丝排列规则,肌节结构清晰,心肌细胞线粒体清晰且形态正常;细胞核发育良好,无空泡以及集块现象。模型组肌原纤维排列紊乱,心肌细胞线粒体形态异常,排列不齐,增生明显,有空泡现象形成。卡托普利组及祛痰通阳汤高剂量组电镜肌原纤维排列基本整齐,线粒体未见明显肿胀,线粒体嵴密集,优于中药低剂量组及中剂量组。2.卡托普利组、中药高剂量组大鼠血浆BNP水平较模型组显著降低(P0.01)。3.与模型组相比,中药高剂量组和卡托普利组心脏质量指数均显著降低(P0.05)。4.卡托普利组及祛痰通阳汤高剂量组心肌组织Keap1 m RNA表达与模型组相比显著降低(P0.05);卡托普利组及祛痰通阳汤高剂量组心肌组织Nrf2 m RNA表达与模型组的相比显著提高(P0.05)。结论:高剂量祛痰通阳汤可显著减轻慢性心衰大鼠的心肌损伤,可能与抑制Keap1 m RNA的表达及增强Nrf2 m RNA表达,进而抗心肌氧化损伤有关。