Phenyl 2‐pyridyl ketoxime induces cellular senescence‐like alterations via nitric oxide production in human diploid fibroblasts

Phenyl‐2‐pyridyl ketoxime (PPKO) was found to be one of the small molecules enriched in the extracellular matrix of near‐senescent human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs). Treatment of young HDFs with PPKO reduced the viability of young HDFs in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner and resulted in senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase (SA‐β‐gal) staining and G2/M cell cycle arrest. In addition, the levels of some senescence‐associated proteins, such as phosphorylated ERK1/2, caveolin‐1, p53, p16^ink4a, and p21^waf1, were elevated in PPKO‐treated cells. To monitor the effect of PPKO on cell stress responses, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was examined by flow cytometry. After PPKO treatment, ROS levels transiently increased at 30 min but then returned to baseline at 60 min. The levels of some antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase, peroxiredoxin II and glutathione peroxidase I, were transiently induced by PPKO treatment. SOD II levels increased gradually, whereas the SOD I and III levels were biphasic during the experimental periods after PPKO treatment. Cellular senescence induced by PPKO was suppressed by chemical antioxidants, such as N‐acetylcysteine, 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinyloxy, and L‐buthionine‐(S,R)‐sulfoximine. Furthermore, PPKO increased nitric oxide (NO) production via inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in HDFs. In the presence of NOS inhibitors, such as L‐NG‐nitroarginine methyl ester and L‐NG‐monomethylarginine, PPKO‐induced transient NO production and SA‐β‐gal staining were abrogated. Taken together, these results suggest that PPKO induces cellular senescence in association with transient ROS and NO production and the subsequent induction of senescence‐associated proteins .     

Quality of Life Is Related to Social Support in Elderly Osteoporosis Patients in a Chinese Population

Objective

To explore the association between quality of life and social support in elderly osteoporosis patients in a Chinese population.

Methods

A total of 214 elderly patients who underwent bone mineral density screening were divided into two groups: elderly patients with primary osteoporosis (case group, n = 112) and normal elderly patients (control group, n = 102). Quality of life and social support were compared between the two groups.

Results

Quality of life and social support were significantly different between the case and control groups. The physical function, role-physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social-functioning, role-emotional and mental health scores in case group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.01). The objective support, subjective support, utilization of support, and total scores in case group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.01). Quality of life and social support were positively correlated in the case group (r = 0.672, P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Quality of life and social support in elderly patients with osteoporosis in China were poorer than in elderly patients without osteoporosis and were positively correlated. Our findings indicate that increased efforts to improve the social support and quality of life in elderly osteoporosis patients are urgently needed in China. Further longitudinal studies should be conducted to provide more clinical evidence to determine causative factors for the observed association between risk factors and outcomes.     

三倍体毛白杨叶片营养DRIS诊断

采用L1645正交设计法对造林后的三倍体毛白杨进行了施肥试验,运用DRIS诊断法对其叶片营养元素进行了研究.结果表明,以造林第3年7～10月份三倍体毛白杨叶片N、P、K元素浓度测定值为依据,成功制定了DRIS图解法及指数法的营养诊断标准,经检验取得了较高的诊断正确率.三倍体毛白杨叶片N、P、K三元素浓度最佳比值范围为N/P=19.116±1.270;N/K=3.054±0.289;K/P=6.356±0.651.DRIS诊断标准分别经各月份林木叶片养分元素浓度回代检验,林木N、P、K需肥次序与实际施肥量基本一致,其中以9月份林木各处理为例,诊断正确率达到了80%以上.3年生三倍体毛白杨林木对N、P、K需求次序为N>K>P,与DRIS诊断结果一致.运用DRIS法诊断得到的三倍体毛白杨叶片养分浓度最佳比值范围将为三倍体毛白杨的合理施肥,大面积推广提供科学依据.     

蒙古冰草MwLEA3基因植物表达载体的构建

以植物双元表达载体pCAMBIA2300为基础,设计分别带有酶切位点XbaI和PstI的一对引物,从克隆载体pGM-T-MwLEA3中扩增到目的基因MwLEA3。用XbaI和PstI双酶切该目的基因及表达载体pCAMBIA2300,回收后利用T4DNA连接酶连接,获得植物表达载体pCAM-MwLEA3。通过冻融法将所获得的植物表达载体重组质粒导入根癌农杆菌LBA4404菌株中,为该基因的功能鉴定及通过农杆菌介导法将MwLEA3基因导入植物提高相关抗性奠定了基础。     

麦红吸浆虫随气流远距离扩散的轨迹分析

为了解麦红吸浆虫Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin)种群随气流远距离扩散的可能性和扩散方向, 本研究于2010年5月在河南省洛阳市洛宁县, 利用系留气球携带取样器调查了麦红吸浆虫种群在5~75 m高空的分布以及活动节律, 应用HYSPLIT-4大气扩散模型模拟了2010年以洛宁县(34.35°N, 111.52°E)为起始点, 空中不同高度层麦红吸浆虫种群的扩散轨迹, 以及2007年麦红吸浆虫种群在我国北方麦区的扩散轨迹。结果表明: 在成虫发生期, 麦红吸浆虫在空中5, 45, 50和65 m 4个高度层种群密度较大, 表现出了明显的成层效应。2010年河南洛宁迁入的种群来自西南方的河南南阳地区, 迁出种群能够随气流进入东北方向的河南省宜阳县境内。2007年麦红吸浆虫种群能够随小麦发育期的先后, 随西南气流逐步向东北方向扩散。成虫随气流扩散是麦红吸浆虫种群远距离扩散的一种重要方式。研究结果有助于了解我国麦红吸浆虫远距离扩散方式, 同时对优化发生动态监测和综合治理提供参考。     

祁连山青海云杉林群落结构的空间异质性

以动态监测样地(340 m×300 m)的网格(5 m×5 m)为基本单元,选择5个群落结构属性变量,采用分形几何学和地统计学方法对祁连山大野口流域青海云杉林群落结构的空间异质性进行研究.结果表明: 青海云杉林5个结构属性的变异程度大小依次为:密度＞平均冠幅＞显著度＞盖度＞平均树高,变异系数为43.7%～79.6%.Moran I系数表明,各个结构属性均有不同程度的空间自相关性,自相关大小顺序为:密度＞平均树高＞盖度＞平均冠幅＞显著度,变化范围为-0.047～0.382.指数理论变异函数模型能很好地拟合不同结构属性的空间变异,变程为24.6～68.1 m,各属性变量的结构比除盖度表现为中等空间相关,其他指标均为强烈空间相关,各属性指标分维数接近2,空间依赖性较小.植被密度和盖度空间分布呈带状结构和斑块结构叠加的特点,其他指标呈较强的斑块状空间结构,密度和盖度对平均冠幅、显著度和平均树高有一定的空间依赖性.青海云杉林群落结构空间异质性适宜的采样间隔和采样面积分别为10 m和0.5 hm².     

VPAC2在CHO细胞的表达及鉴定

PAC2是垂体腺苷酸环化酶激活多肽(Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide,PACAP)和血管活性肠肽(vasoactive intestinal peptide,VIP)的共同受体,介导多种重要生物学功能。为获得稳定特异表达VPAC2的中国仓鼠卵巢(Chinesehamsterovary,CHO)细胞,将pcDNA-VPAC2表达载体转染CHO细胞,G418筛选转染阳性克隆,PACAP38标准品诱导阳性克隆细胞的胞内cAMP生成,筛选出对PACAP38最为敏感的阳性单克隆细胞株(VPAC2-CHO),运用RT-PCR、Westernblot和免疫荧光法检测VPAC2受体表达情况,利用VPAC2受体特异激动剂通过竞争性结合试验和促进胞内第二信使cAMP生成的活性检测实验证实,VPAC2-CHO特异表达有功能的VPAC2。Scatchard作图分析显示VPAC2-CHO的VPAC2受体密度为(1.1±0.2)pmol/mg膜蛋白,PACAP38与VPAC2的解离常数Kd值为(0.55±0.10)nmol/L。特异表达VPAC2受体细胞系的构建为深入研究该受体理化性质、生物学功能以及筛选、开发VPAC2受体新型特异激动剂和拮抗剂等研究奠定了基础。     

Longitudinal Surveillance of Betacoronaviruses in Fruit Bats in Yunnan Province,China During 2009–2016

Previous studies indicated that fruit bats carry two betacoronaviruses,BatCoV HKU9 and BatCoV GCCDC1.To investigate the epidemiology and genetic diversity of these coronaviruses,we conducted a longitudinal surveillance in fruit bats in Yunnan province,China during 2009–2016.A total of 59(10.63%)bat samples were positive for the two betacorona-viruses,46(8.29%)for HKU9 and 13(2.34%)for GCCDC1,or closely related viruses.We identified a novel HKU9 strain,tentatively designated as BatCoV HKU9-2202,by sequencing the full-length genome.The BatCoV HKU9-2202 shared 83%nucleotide identity with other BatCoV HKU9 stains based on whole genome sequences.The most divergent region is in the spike protein,which only shares 68%amino acid identity with BatCoV HKU9.Quantitative PCR revealed that the intestine was the primary infection organ of BatCoV HKU9 and GCCDC1,but some HKU9 was also detected in the heart,kidney,and lung tissues of bats.This study highlights the importance of virus surveillance in natural reservoirs and emphasizes the need for preparedness against the potential spill-over of these viruses to local residents living near bat caves.     

Reprogramming of the activity of the activator/dissociation transposon family during plant regeneration in rice

Many aspects of epigenetic phenomena have been elucidated via studies of transposable elements. An active transposable element frequently loses its ability to mobilize and goes into an inactive state during development. In this study, we describe the cyclic activity of a maize transposable element dissociation (Ds) in rice. In rice genome, Ds undergoes the spontaneous loss of mobility. However, an inactive state of Ds can be changed into an active state during tissue culture. The recovery of mobility accompanies not only changes in the methylation patterns of the terminal region of Ds, but also alteration in the steady state level of the activator (Ac) mRNA that is expressed by a constitutive CaMV 35S promoter. Furthermore, the Ds-reactivation process is not random, but stage-specific during plantlet regeneration. Our findings have expanded previous observations on Ac reactivation in the tissue culture of maize.