A mitogenome of the Chevrier's field mouse (Apodemus chevrieri) and genetic variations inferred from the cytochrome b gene

The Chevrier's field mouse (Apodemus chevrieri) is an endemic species to China and is an important pest in agriculture and human diseases. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of this species was sequenced and its size was 16,298 bases (accession no.: HQ896683). The mitogenome structure was similar compared with other reported rodent mitochondrial genomes and includes 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA), 22 tRNA genes, and 1 control region. This was the first complete mitogenome sequenced in genus Apodemus. The phylogenetic analyses based on the sequences of 12 heavy-strand protein-coding genes demonstrated that A. chevrieri clustered together with genus Mus. Additionally, extremely high haplotype and nucleotide diversities (h=0.978, π=2.6%) were observed based on 44 mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) gene sequences. This suggests adaptive divergence of this species to a variety of living habitats and potential refuges in the eastern margin of the Hengduan Mountains during the Quaternary ice ages. No population expansions or genetic bottlenecks were observed in demographic analyses. The phylogenetic analysis of cyt b sequences and haplotypes revealed a genetic differentiation between north and south populations. The divergence between north clade and south clade occurred probably in the middle Pleistocene 1.1815 million years ago (Mya) (95% highest posterior density 2.3189-0.2737 Mya), which was congruent with the periods of the most tense uplift events in the Tibetan Plateau.     

The Transurethral Seminal Vesiculoscopy in the Diagnosis and Treatment of the Seminal Vesicle Disease

To develop a transurethral endoscopy technique of the transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy to examine and treat seminal vesicle disease. A total of 61 patients with seminal vesicle disease were diagnosed and treated with the transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy through the distal seminal tracts and vesicles. 58 cases were successfully treated using transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy via the seminal vesicles. The operation took 25 ~ 85 min, with an average of (35.6) mins. In this group, seven cases were diagnosed as ejaculatory orifice cyst, 14 cases had blood clots in the seminal vesicles, and nine patients had stones in the seminal vesicles. All patients were treated properly. Follow-up occurred at 3 months, with two cases showing post-operative discomfort in perineal region. One patient had recurrence with seminal vesiculitis, which improved with treatment. Four infertile patients had a significant increase in sperm count and ejaculation volume and two of these patients were able to naturally inseminate within seven to 18 months post-surgery. This approach enables a new endoscopic technique with the transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy to diagnose and treat seminal vesicle disease through the normal anatomic pathway which can be easily performed with few post-operative complications.     

Longibramides A–E,Peptaibols Isolated from a Mushroom Derived Fungus Trichoderma longibrachiatum Rifai DMG-3-1-1

Five new peptaibols, longibramides A–E ( 1 – 5 ) with 11 amino acid residues, were isolated from a fungus Trichoderma longibrachiatum Rifai DMG-3-1-1, which was isolated from a mushroom Clitocybe nebularis (Batsch) P. Kumm collected from coniferous forest in the subboreal area of northeast China. The structures of longibramides A–E were determined by their spectroscopic data (NMR and MS-MS spectra), their absolute configurations were determined by X-ray diffractions and Marfey's analyses. The X-ray diffractions of longibramides A, B, and the similar CD spectra of A–E showed that they all had α-helix conformations. Longibramides B and E showed moderate cytotoxicities against BV2 and MCF-7 cells and also showed some inhibitory effects against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA T144. L-trans-Hyp was not commonly found in natural peptaibols, which was the 6^th or 10^th amino acid residue in longibramides C–E. The X-ray diffractions of longibramides A and B afforded the accuracy conformations of their secondary structures, which maybe help to interpret the structure-activity relationships of the family of peptaibols in the future.     

极端耐盐碱菌株的筛选及其菌肥对盐碱条件下小麦生长和土壤环境的影响

为获得具有盐碱地改良应用潜力的耐盐碱菌株,将采集于东营盐碱地的土样稀释涂布于pH 9、盐浓度100 g·L-1的Gibbson改良培养基上,共获得18株细菌.通过提高盐浓度、pH值,最终获得在pH 12、盐浓度20%的条件下仍然可以生长的极端耐盐碱菌株N14.对N14进行形态学、生理生化特征和16S rDNA序列分析鉴定,结果表明:菌株N14为马氏芽孢杆菌.盆栽试验结果表明,与盐碱土(CK)相比,N14菌肥可以显著提高小麦的生物量,株高、鲜重、干重分别提高了21.8%、57.9%、41.7%;显著增加小麦叶绿素a、叶绿素b、叶绿素总量,增长率分别为36.4%、20.0%、31.7%;显著提高盐碱土壤中的蔗糖酶、脲酶和碱性磷酸酶的活性,增长率分别为23.2%、68.8%、106.5%;显著提高小麦根系的超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶和过氧化氢酶的活性,增长率分别为109.6%、17.8%、50%;显著减少小麦根系丙二醛的含量,减少率为39.8%.本研究为极端耐盐碱菌的应用提供了一条新思路,为盐碱地的改良提供了一条新途径.     

LPCAT1 reprogramming cholesterol metabolism promotes the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Tumor cells require high levels of cholesterol for membrane biogenesis for rapid proliferation during development. Beyond the acquired cholesterol from low-density lipoprotein (LDL) taken up from circulation, tumor cells can also biosynthesize cholesterol. The molecular mechanism underlying cholesterol anabolism in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its effect on patient prognosis are unclear. Dysregulation of lipid metabolism is common in cancer. Lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1 (LPCAT1) has been implicated in various cancer types; however, its role in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. In this study, we identified that LPCAT1 is highly expressed in ESCC and that LPCAT1 reprograms cholesterol metabolism in ESCC. LPCAT1 expression was negatively correlated with patient prognosis. Cholesterol synthesis in ESCC cells was significantly inhibited following LPCAT1 knockdown; cell proliferation, invasion, and migration were significantly reduced, along with the growth of xenograft subcutaneous tumors. LPCAT1 could regulate the expression of the cholesterol synthesis enzyme, SQLE, by promoting the activation of PI3K, thereby regulating the entry of SP1/SREBPF2 into the nucleus. LPCAT1 also activates EGFR leading to the downregulation of INSIG-1 expression, facilitating the entry of SREBP-1 into the nucleus to promote cholesterol synthesis. Taken together, LPCAT1 reprograms tumor cell cholesterol metabolism in ESCC and can be used as a potential treatment target against ESCC.Subject terms: Cancer metabolism, Cancer prevention     

Pre-Existing Hypertension Dominates γδT Cell Reduction in Human Ischemic Stroke

T lymphocytes may play an important role in the evolution of ischemic stroke. Depletion of γδT cells has been found to abrogate ischemia reperfusion injury in murine stroke. However, the role of γδT cells in human ischemic stroke is unknown. We aimed to determine γδT cell counts and γδT cell interleukin 17A (IL-17A) production in the clinical setting of ischemic stroke. We also aimed to determine the associations of γδT cell counts with ischemic lesion volume, measures of clinical severity and with major stroke risk factors. Peripheral blood samples from 43 acute ischemic stroke patients and 26 control subjects matched on race and gender were used for flow cytometry and complete blood count analyses. Subsequently, cytokine levels and gene expression were measured in γδT cells. The number of circulating γδT cells was decreased by almost 50% (p = 0.005) in the stroke patients. γδT cell counts did not correlate with lesion volume on magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging or with clinical severity in the stroke patients, but γδT cells showed elevated levels of IL-17A (p = 0.048). Decreased γδT cell counts were also associated with older age (p = 0.004), pre-existing hypertension (p = 0.0005) and prevalent coronary artery disease (p = 0.03), with pre-existing hypertension being the most significant predictor of γδT cell counts in a multivariable analysis. γδT cells in human ischemic stroke are reduced in number and show elevated levels of IL-17A. A major reduction in γδT lymphocytes also occurs in hypertension and may contribute to the development of hypertension-mediated stroke and vascular disease.     

构树黄酮对小鼠学习记忆的影响(英文)

Morris水迷宫在啮齿目动物的空间学习与记忆的研究中被广泛使用。研究表明摄食抗氧化剂能够增强空间学习与记忆能力。本文目的在于研究构树黄酮对昆明小鼠的空间学习与记忆能力的影响。用构树黄酮固体脂质纳米粒对小鼠灌胃4周,然后进行Morris水迷宫测试。与对照组相比,实验组小鼠的各项指标均有显著改善。这表明构树黄酮能显著增强小鼠的空间学习与记忆能力。同时研究还表明构树黄酮对小鼠的生长发育没有影响。