反义c-myc重组腺病毒载体的构建及其对大鼠胸腺淋巴细胞的增殖抑制作用

目的:观察反义c-myc重组腺病毒载体对大鼠胸腺淋巴细胞的增殖抑制作用.方法:构建大鼠反义及正义c-myc细菌质粒,并将所得细菌质粒与E1缺失腺病毒质粒导入293细胞系,经共转染得到正义及反义重组腺病毒载体.MTS法检测重组腺病毒载体对大鼠淋巴细胞增殖的抑制作用,RT-PCR检测重组腺病毒载体对c-myc mR-NA表达的影响.结果:反义c-myc重组腺病毒载体可抑制大鼠淋巴细胞增殖,降低淋巴细胞c-myc mRNA的表达.结论:反义c-myc重组腺病毒载体可抑制大鼠淋巴细胞增殖.     

植物群落中物种小尺度空间结构研究

植物群落中, 物种小尺度空间结构影响着种群或群落的动态及有关的生态学过程。植物主要是和它同种或异种的邻近个体相互作用,植物个体周围的局部环境和大空间尺度下群落的平均水平是完全不同的。群落中的许多过程都影响小尺度空间结构的形成和动态,同样,局部空间结构反过来影响着植物的生长、更新和凋亡等重要过程。鉴于目前对小尺度空间结构进行的大量研究以及其重要性,有必要对其研究进展进行适当的总结,以期明确将来进一步的研究方向。该文以此为出发点,首先介绍了植物群落中物种小尺度空间结构产生的6个原因:1)生境的空间异质性;2)植物繁殖体的传播;3)植物之间的相互作用;4)生物环境(动物和微生物)的作用;5)外界干扰的作用;6)多因子综合作用。然后阐述了小尺度空间结构意义及对生物多样性、植物种群遗传学和恢复生态学研究的影响。最后对目前物种小尺度空间结构研究存在的几点问题及将来的研究方向作以下归纳:1)大尺度植被动态的研究应该整合小尺度空间结构的信息;2)不论从生物学还是生态学上来讲, 植被小尺度空间结构的研究应该把植物作为中心,确定适当的尺度和采取合理的空间统计方法;3)充分重视小尺度空间结构在退化生态系统恢复中的应用意义;4)注重从小尺度的局部格局研究入手对群落总体特征进行整合;5)植物群落动态研究中,物种小尺度空间结构与平均场假说相结合的必要性。     

DNA测序中常见影响因素的研究

对测序中的模板、引物、测序反应条件及测序反应纯化方法和仪器操作等进行研究。结果显示测序模板的纯度影响测序的质量 ,浓度对测序的长度有影响。引物设计时除符合一般设计原则外 ,Tm值最好在5 0℃～ 6 0℃之间 ,且无成串的G、C。改变变性、退火、延伸的时间和温度对特殊DNA模板的序列测定有较好的效果。测序反应产物的纯化有几种方法 ,以 70 %乙醇沉淀法最经济、方便。因此模板的纯度和浓度对测序成功与否起决定作用。最佳反应条件可降低成本 ,提高测序成功率 ,乙醇沉淀法是首选的测序反应产物纯化方法。仪器操作熟练、正确与否也会影响测序结果。     

人参对大鼠胃G细胞、D细胞影响的免疫组织化学观察

本文应用免疫组织化学PAP方法观察大鼠胃G细胞、D细胞的分布和形态特征,以及人参对胃G细胞、D细胞免疫细胞化学活性的影响。用细胞显微分光光度计检测了服用人参的G细胞、D细胞免疫反应阳性面积及光密度。检测结果表明,人参能使大鼠胃G细胞、D细胞增大,增加G细胞中胃泌素的含量和D细胞中生长抑素的含量。本文的结果提示,人参对大鼠胃G细胞和D细胞的形态及分泌活动有调节性影响。     

Cryoprotectants for the vitrification of corneal endothelial cells

The objective of this work was to select and test systematically possible cryoprotective agents (CPAs) and to obtain a suitable formula for vitrification of corneal endothelial cells (CECs). Fresh bovine CECs were isolated and tested with an optimized vitrification protocol with multi-step CPA loading and removal. Three types of CPAs components, i.e. the penetrating CPAs, sugars and macromolecular compounds, were experimentally evaluated using the viability assayed by trypan blue. Dimethyl sulfoxide, ethylene glycol (EG), 1,2-propanediol, 2,3-butanediol, acetamide and ethylene glycol monomethyl ether were chosen as the penetrating CPA components. Sugars including xylose, fructose, mannose, glucose, maltose, sucrose and trehalose were tested. Ficoll (MW 7 kDa), dextran (MW 7 kDa), chondroitin sulfate (CS, MW 18-30 kDa), bovine serum albumin (MW 68 kDa) and polyethylene glycol (MW 6 kDa, 10 kDa and 20 kDa) were chosen as the macromolecular compounds. CECs were also preserved by slow freezing as a control. The results showed that EG was the most suitable penetrating CPA component and glucose the most suitable sugar, and CS the most suitable macromolecule. The optimized concentrations for each component in the vitrification solution were 52% (w/w) EG, 8% (w/w) glucose and 3% (w/w) CS. The CEC survival rate of 89.4 ± 2.1% (mean ± SD) was obtained using this formula and established vitrification protocol which was comparable to that by slow freezing.     

P21蛋白在不同级别宫颈组织中的表达及其与高危HPV感染相关性的研究

目的通过检测宫颈组织中p21waf基因表达与高危HPV感染的情况,研究P21蛋白与高危HPV感染在宫颈组织恶性转化过程中的作用及其相互关系。方法应用免疫组化检测P21蛋白及基因杂交捕获Ⅱ代技术(HC-Ⅱ)检测高危HPV在正常宫颈组、宫颈炎、宫颈上皮内瘤样病变(CIN)及宫颈癌组这4组中的表达情况。结果在正常宫颈组、宫颈炎、宫颈上皮内瘤样病变(CIN)、及宫颈癌组中P21的阳性表达率分别为11.8%、15.4%、39.1%和57.7%;高危HPV的阳性表达率分别为20%、23.5%、65.2%和88.5%,这两项指标在CIN、宫颈癌组有明显的升高趋势且与正常宫颈和宫颈炎两组相比差异具有显著性统计学意义(P<0.05);各级别宫颈组织中高危HPV阳性组的P21蛋白阳性率明显高于阴性组的P21蛋白阳性率。差异在统计学上具有显著性意义(P<0.05)。结论P21蛋白的表达和高危HPV感染与宫颈病变的恶化均有高度的相关性,其检出率和阳性表达率随着宫颈病变恶性程度的增加而升高。在CIN向宫颈癌恶性转化过程中,P21与高危HPV共同促进肿瘤的发生。     

Multifaceted Modelling of Complex Business Enterprises

We formalise and present a new generic multifaceted complex system approach for modelling complex business enterprises. Our method has a strong focus on integrating the various data types available in an enterprise which represent the diverse perspectives of various stakeholders. We explain the challenges faced and define a novel approach to converting diverse data types into usable Bayesian probability forms. The data types that can be integrated include historic data, survey data, and management planning data, expert knowledge and incomplete data. The structural complexities of the complex system modelling process, based on various decision contexts, are also explained along with a solution. This new application of complex system models as a management tool for decision making is demonstrated using a railway transport case study. The case study demonstrates how the new approach can be utilised to develop a customised decision support model for a specific enterprise. Various decision scenarios are also provided to illustrate the versatility of the decision model at different phases of enterprise operations such as planning and control.     

Self-Regulation of Brain Activity in Patients with Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Double-Blind Randomized Study Using Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback

Background

A pilot study has shown that real-time fMRI (rtfMRI) neurofeedback could be an alternative approach for chronic pain treatment. Considering the relative small sample of patients recruited and not strictly controlled condition, it is desirable to perform a replication as well as a double-blinded randomized study with a different control condition in chronic pain patients. Here we conducted a rtfMRI neurofeedback study in a subgroup of pain patients – patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and used a different sham neurofeedback control. We explored the feasibility of self-regulation of the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) activation in patients with PHN through rtfMRI neurofeedback and regulation of pain perception.

Methods

Sixteen patients (46–71 years) with PHN were randomly allocated to a experimental group (n = 8) or a control group (n = 8). 2 patients in the control group were excluded for large head motion. The experimental group was given true feedback information from their rACC whereas the control group was given sham feedback information from their posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). All subjects were instructed to perform an imagery task to increase and decrease activation within the target region using rtfMRI neurofeedback.

Results

Online analysis showed 6/8 patients in the experimental group were able to increase and decrease the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) fMRI signal magnitude during intermittent feedback training. However, this modulation effect was not observed in the control group. Offline analysis showed that the percentage of BOLD signal change of the target region between the last and first training in the experimental group was significantly different from the control group’s and was also significantly different than 0. The changes of pain perception reflected by numerical rating scale (NRS) in the experimental group were significantly different from the control group. However, there existed no significant correlations between BOLD signal change and NRS change.

Conclusion

Patients with PHN could learn to voluntarily control over activation in rACC through rtfMRI neurofeedback and alter their pain perception level. The present study may provide new evidence that rtfMRI neurofeedback training may be a supplemental approach for chronic clinical pain management.     

Patterns of Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 in Subjects with and without Type 2 Diabetes

Background

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) exerts wide-range effects on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. However, its perturbation in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains elusive. Besides, previous human studies in T2DM simply investigated fasting or stimulated levels of FGF21. The current study sought to evaluate the temporal changes of circulating FGF21 in subjects with and without T2DM.

Methods

Ten patients with T2DM and 16 normal controls (NC) were recruited. Participants were categorized as obese (BMI≥25 kg/m²) or lean (BMI<25 kg/m²). Blood samples were drawn every 30 min within 7 hours (8 a.m.-3 p.m.). Serum FGF21, blood glucose, insulin, free fatty acids (FFAs) and adiponectin were measured in all subjects.

Results

The peak levels of FGF21 were observed in the fasting state (8 a.m.) both in T2DM and NC groups (267.35 ±158.72 ng/L vs. 178.93±121.37 ng/L, P = 0.096). FGF21 AUC did not differ significantly between the two groups (T2DM: 949.4±471.47 ng/L; NC: 883.13±561.40 ng/L, P = 0.770). Obese subjects had higher FGF21 levels than lean ones in patients either with or without T2DM. The pattern of FFAs closely resembled that of FGF21. Correlation analysis showed that temporal levels of FGF21 were significantly related to FFAs (r = 0.749, P = 0.002),but not blood glucose, insulin or adiponectin (all P> 0.05).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the pattern of circulating FGF21 does not differ significantly between T2DM and NC,although T2DM patients showed a trend toward higher fasting FGF21 than healthy subjects. The pattern of circulating FFAs is significantly associated with that of FGF21.     

Activation of G proteins by GIV-GEF is a pivot point for insulin resistance and sensitivity

Insulin resistance (IR) is a metabolic disorder characterized by impaired insulin signaling and cellular glucose uptake. The current paradigm for insulin signaling centers upon the insulin receptor (InsR) and its substrate IRS1; the latter is believed to be the sole conduit for postreceptor signaling. Here we challenge that paradigm and show that GIV/Girdin, a guanidine exchange factor (GEF) for the trimeric G protein Gαi, is another major hierarchical conduit for the metabolic insulin response. By virtue of its ability to directly bind InsR, IRS1, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase, GIV serves as a key hub in the immediate postreceptor level, which coordinately enhances the metabolic insulin response and glucose uptake in myotubes via its GEF function. Site-directed mutagenesis or phosphoinhibition of GIV-GEF by the fatty acid/protein kinase C-theta pathway triggers IR. Insulin sensitizers reverse phosphoinhibition of GIV and reinstate insulin sensitivity. We also provide evidence for such reversible regulation of GIV-GEF in skeletal muscles from patients with IR. Thus GIV is an essential upstream component that couples InsR to G-protein signaling to enhance the metabolic insulin response, and impairment of such coupling triggers IR. We also provide evidence that GIV-GEF serves as therapeutic target for exogenous manipulation of physiological insulin response and reversal of IR in skeletal muscles.