The anti-fatty liver effects of garlic oil on acute ethanol-exposed mice

The protective effects of single dose of garlic oil (GO) on acute ethanol-induced fatty liver were investigated. Mice were treated with ethanol (4.8 g/kg bw) to induce acute fatty liver. The liver index, the serum and hepatic triglyceride (TG) levels and the histological changes were examined to evaluate the protective effects. Hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were determined for the antioxidant capacity assay. Acute ethanol exposure resulted in the enlargement of the liver index and the increase of the serum and hepatic TG levels (P<0.01), which were dramatically attenuated by GO pretreatment in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01). GO treatment (simultaneously with ethanol exposure) exhibited similar effects to those of pretreatment, while no obviously protective effects were displayed when it was used at 2h after ethanol intake. Histological changes were paralleled to these indices. Beside this, GO dramatically prolonged the drunken time and shortened the waking time, and these effects were superior to those of silymarin and tea polyphenol. In addition, GO dose-dependently suppressed the elevation of MDA levels, restored the GSH levels and enhanced the SOD, GR and GST activities. Compared with the ethanol group, the MDA levels decreased by 14.2% (P<0.05), 29.9% and 32.8% (P<0.01) in GO groups 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. The GST activity increased by 9.97%, 19.94% (P<0.05) and 42.12% (P<0.01) of the ethanol group in GO groups 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively, while the GR activity increased by 28.57% (P<0.05), 37.97% (P<0.01), 50.45% (P<0.01) of the ethanol group in GO groups 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. These data indicated that single dose of GO possessed ability to prevent acute ethanol-induced fatty liver, but may lose its capacity when used after ethanol exposure. The protective effects should be associated with its antioxidative activities.     

Phosphorylation and stabilization of TAp63gamma by IkappaB kinase-beta

Post-translational modification of the p53 family members is key to their regulation. Here we report the phosphorylation of TAp63gamma, but not DeltaNp63gamma, by IkappaB kinase beta (IKKbeta). Activation of IKKbeta by gamma radiation or tumor necrosis factor-alpha led to increased TAp63gamma protein levels in cells. IKKbeta, but not its kinase-defective mutant IKKbeta-K44A, led to this observed stabilization of TAp63gamma. This stabilization of TAp63gamma in response to gamma radiation was significantly decreased in the absence of IKKbeta. Phosphorylation of TAp63gamma blocks ubiquitylation and possible degradation of this protein. We postulate that phosphorylation of TAp63gamma by IKKbeta stabilizes the TAp63gamma protein by blocking ubiquitylation-dependent degradation of this protein.     

N-Acyl homoserine lactonase promotes prevention of Erwinia virulence with zwittermicin A-producing strain Bacillus cereus

Zwittermicin A (ZwA), a hybrid polyketide- peptide antibiotic, and N-acyl -homoserine-lactonase (AHL-lactonase), a kind of quorum-quenching enzyme, have the potential to prevent the virulence of Erwinia carotovora, which is a major pathogen of soft rot. The purpose of this study was to combine the two agents in one host to improve their prevention efficacy. AHL-lactonase was over-expressed in the ZwA-producing strain Bacillus cereus and derivates were identified to create genetically modified (GM) strains. The comparative results showed that neither ZwA nor AHL-lactonase impacted the yield of the other; the increased yield of ZwA could promote the prevention efficacy of GM strains; Coexistence of ZwA and AHL-lactonase in the GM strains had better prevention efficacy than either has separately. It is a potential therapy to provide more effective prevention and withstand gradually increasing pesticide-resistance by combining the two antibacterial agents.     

秦岭羚牛的生态与保护对策

秦岭羚牛被世界自然保护联盟列为易危物种.是中国的国家Ⅰ级重点保护野生动物,仅分布于中国陕西省南部的秦岭大巴山地区.从分布、栖息地、种群状况、集群特征、活动规律、食性、季节性迁移行为、繁殖生态和防御行为等方面概述了秦岭羚牛的生态习性,并提出了对该物种的保护与管理建议.     

The denitrification capability of cluster 1 Defluviicoccus vanus-related glycogen-accumulating organisms

The denitrification capability of Cluster 1 Defluviicoccus vanus-related glycogen-accumulating organisms (DvGAOs) is investigated. A sequencing batch reactor (SBR) fed with acetate as the sole carbon source was operated under alternating anaerobic-aerobic conditions to enrich Cluster 1 DvGAOs. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) showed that more than 85% of the bacterial population present in the reactor bound to the probes previously designed for Cluster 1 DvGAOs. A series of batch tests were performed to evaluate the capability of the community to reduce nitrate and nitrite. The tests were carried out both before and after the adaptation of the culture to anoxic conditions, and with both the intracellularly stored carbon and acetate as the electron donors. It was found that Cluster 1 DvGAOs were able to reduce nitrate but most likely unable to reduce nitrite. When un-adapted Cluster 1 DvGAOs were exposed to nitrate for the first time, a lag phase of approximately 4 h occurred, which was likely required for the synthesis of the necessary enzymes.     

Critical role of angiopoietins/Tie-2 in hyperglycemic exacerbation of myocardial infarction and impaired angiogenesis

Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) are the two ligands of the Tie-2 receptor, a receptor tyrosine kinase that is expressed on the endothelium. A balanced angiopoietin/Tie-2 system is critical for the maintenance of vascular integrity. We investigated the potential role of a disrupted angiopoietin/Tie-2 system on hyperglycemic exacerbation of myocardial infarction and impaired angiogenesis. Using streptozotocin (STZ) mice subjected to myocardial ischemia, we examined the effects of shifting the Ang-2-to-Ang-1 ratio on myocardial infarction size, apoptosis, bone marrow (BM) cell-endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) differentiation, and angiogenesis. In control mice, myocardial ischemia increased expression of both Ang-2 and Tie-2. In STZ mice, Ang-2 expression was elevated, whereas Tie-2 expression was reduced, and neither was significantly altered by ischemia. Myocardial infarct size and apoptosis were increased in STZ compared with control mice. Using in vivo administration of an adenovirus containing Ang-1 or Ang-2, we found that shifting the Ang-2-to-Ang-1 ratio to favor Ang-1 reduced myocardial apoptosis and infarct size in STZ mice, while shifting the Ang-2-to-Ang-1 ratio to favor Ang-2 resulted in a significant increase in myocardial infarct size and apoptosis in control mice. Myocardial ischemia-stimulated BM cell-EPC differentiation was inhibited and myocardial angiogenesis was reduced in STZ mice. Systemic administration of Ad-Ang-1 restored BM cell-EPC differentiation and increased myocardial VEGF expression and angiogenesis in STZ mice. Our data demonstrate that disturbed angiopoietin/Tie-2 signaling contributes to the hyperglycemic exacerbation of myocardial infarction and impaired angiogenesis. Restoration of the Ang-2-to-Ang-1 ratio may be a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of diabetic myocardial ischemic diseases.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phthalic acid esters in the soil-radish (Raphanus sativus) system with sewage sludge and compost application

We studied the accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in a latosolic red soil and radish (Raphanus sativus) with application of sewage sludge at rates of 10, 20 and 40 g kg(-1) soil or compost at rate of 10 g kg(-1) soil. In radish the concentrations of individual PAHs and PAEs varied from non-detectable to 803 microg kg(-1) dry weight (d.w.) and from non-detectable to 2048 microg kg(-1) d.w., respectively. Compared to the control, higher application rates of sewage sludge resulted in pronounced increases in shoot, root and soil concentrations of PAHs and PAEs. PAE concentrations in radish grown in soil spiked with sludge compost were higher while the PAH concentrations were comparable to those receiving 10 g kg(-1) of sewage sludge. However, the root biomass of radish in soil amended with compost was significantly higher and the shoot-to-root ratio was significantly lower than in the other treatments. The bioconcentration factors (BCFs, the ratio of contaminant concentration in plant tissue to the soil concentration) of di-n-butyl phthalate and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in both shoots and roots and of total PAH concentrations in roots were less than 1.0, but some BCFs for individual PAHs were high with a maximum value of 80.     

Improved Cardiac Contractility of Human Recombinant Growth Hormone on the Congestive Heart Failure of Pig

1Introduction Congestiveheartfailureisamultipleaetiology,high prevalence,cardiovasculardisorderwithpoorprognosis. Medicaltreatmentofdilatedcardiomyopathyisaimedat alleviatingthesymptomsofheartfailure.Diuretics,ACE inhibitorsandbeta blockershavefavourableeffectson symptoms,exercisecapacityandmortality[1-3].Growth hormone(GH)andinsulin likegrowthfactor(IGF) 1 areinvolvedinseveralphysiologicalprocessessuchas thecontrolofmusclemassandfunction,bodycomposi tionandtheregulationofnutrientmetaboli…     

Screening the Main Factors Affecting Extraction of the Antimicrobial Substance from Bacillus sp. fmbJ using the Plackett–Burman Method

Summary The Plackett–Burman screening method was utilized as a tool to evaluate the importance of the selected six factors, including methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, pH and time, which are relevant to the extraction of the antimicrobial substance produced by Bacillus sp. fmbJ. The main factors that affected the extraction of the antimicrobial substance were determined as methanol (P < 0.0001), ethanol (P < 0.0001), pH (P = 0.0032), and time (P < 0.0001) by using the JMP software. Within the test ranges, methanol, ethanol, and time showed a significant positive relativity to the total extracted amounts respectively; while pH had a significant negative effect. The maximum prediction profile indicated that the total extracted amounts for the antimicrobial substance would reach 50.21 mg/100 ml with 99.64% probability.