Metabolic dynamics across prolonged diapause development in larvae of the sawfly,Cephalcia chuxiongica (Hymenoptera: Pamphiliidae)

Nutrient metabolism is crucial for the survival of insects through the diapause. However, little is known about the metabolic mechanism of prolonged diapause. The sawfly, Cephalcia chuxiongica (Hymenoptera: Pamphiliidae), is a notorious defoliator of pine trees in southwest China. One of the distinguishing biological characteristics of this pest is the prolonged diapause of about 1.5 years. In this study, the body lipid, carbohydrate (total body sugar, glycogen, trehalose, and glucose), protein, and glycerol contents were measured in diapausing larvae of C. chuxiongica. The results showed that the changes of biochemical composition in C. chuxiongica are associated with the diapause initiation, maintenance, and termination phases. During the initiation phase, trehalose, glucose, and glycerol increased significantly, but glycogen decreased sharply. In general, the lipid, carbohydrate, and glycerol levels decreased gradually across the maintenance phase. At termination phase, the contents of glycogen and lipid persistently decreased, while an increase of trehalose, glucose, and glycerol contents were detected. The protein level was significantly higher at maintenance phase than at initiation and termination phases. It was also found that elevation of trehalose, glucose, and glycerol contents occurred in winter. These implies that the metabolites with altered levels in diapausing larvae of C. chuxiongica are responsible for maintaining a prolonged development and overwintering.     

西伯利亚蝗抗菌肽基因的克隆及表达特性研究

[目的]扩增西伯利亚蝗Gomphocerus sibiricus抗菌肽(attacin)基因,并对其进行生物信息学分析,同时分析西伯利亚蝗不同组织中抗菌肽基因的差异表达.[方法]基于RACE技术从西伯利亚蝗中克隆得到抗菌肽,利用生物信息学软件对西伯利亚蝗抗菌肽的一级结构、二级结构、三级结构、系统进化和亚细胞定位进行分析.采用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测了西伯利亚蝗抗菌肽基因在马氏管、中肠、后肠、脂肪体和唾液腺中的相对表达量.[结果]克隆获得的抗菌肽基因的开放阅读框为282 bp,编码93个氨基酸,其编码蛋白预测理论分子量为9.98 ku,等电点为9.26.抗菌肽氨基酸序列中存在信号肽序列.基因定量分析显示,抗菌肽基因在西伯利亚蝗的中肠中表达量最高.[结论]attacin在西伯利亚蝗成虫不同组织中差异表达,提示其消化道在防御病原微生物的入侵中起着重要的作用.     

The effects of post-stroke upper-limb training with an electromyography (EMG)-driven hand robot

Loss of hand function and finger dexterity are main disabilities in the upper limb after stroke. An electromyography (EMG)-driven hand robot had been developed for post-stroke rehabilitation training. The effectiveness of the hand robot assisted whole upper limb training was investigated on persons with chronic stroke (n = 10) in this work. All subjects attended a 20-session training (3–5 times/week) by using the hand robot to practice object grasp/release and arm transportation tasks. Significant motor improvements were observed in the Fugl-Meyer hand/wrist and shoulder/elbow scores (p < 0.05), and also in the Action Research Arm Test and Wolf Motor Function Test (p < 0.05). Significant reduction in spasticity of the fingers as was measured by the Modified Ashworth Score (p < 0.05). The training improved the muscle co-ordination between the antagonist muscle pair (flexor digitorum (FD) and extensor digitorum (ED)), associated with a significant reduction in the ED EMG level (p < 0.05) and a significant decrease of ED and FD co-contraction during the training (p < 0.05); the excessive muscle activities in the biceps brachii were also reduced significantly after the training (p < 0.05).     

竹叶菜的组织培养研究

竹叶菜为百合科鹿药属一种多年生草本植物,因做菜口感好,且营养丰富、药用价值高而成为深受人们喜爱的一种野生蔬菜.有关竹叶菜及其同属的组织培养研究均未见报道.本文以竹叶菜的顶芽为外植体,通过器官发生途径,初步探索了竹叶菜的组织培养技术,结果表明:芽诱导的合适培养基为:MS +6-BA 1.5 +NAA 0.05+0.6％琼脂+3％蔗糖;芽继代培养的合适培养基为:MS+6-BA 1.2 +NAA 0.05 +0.6％琼脂+3％蔗糖;无菌小苗生根的合适培养基为:MS+ IAA 1.5+ NAA 0.2+ 0.6％琼脂+3％蔗糖.为竹叶菜今后较大规模地栽培或生产提供种苗及技术贮备,为实现竹叶菜资源的可持续性开发利用奠定了基础.     

外源NO对不同UV-B辐射天数处理的小麦叶片总蛋白的影响

研究外源NO对不同UV-B辐射天数处理的小麦叶片总蛋白的影响.采用蒸馏水和0.1 mmol/L 硝普钠（SNP,一种NO供体）浸种24 h,试验设置不同的处理组：CK、CK＋B、SNP、SNP＋B.待幼苗生长7天后取其叶片进行总蛋白的提取及SDS-PAGE凝胶图像的分析.不同处理对叶片总蛋白含量、电泳图谱及电泳条带数目的影响不同;外源NO能显著增加不同UV-B处理天数下小麦叶片总蛋白的含量,且SNP和SNP＋B处理组的电泳条带均较CK和CK＋B处理组的电泳条带变宽且颜色变深.外源NO能显著增加UV-B辐射下小麦叶片的总蛋白含量.同时,不同处理组电泳条带数目的变化反应出一些蛋白的降解和合成,最终也体现了不同处理组蛋白含量的变化.     

Atherosclerosis,Oxidation and Endometriosis

Endometriosis affects younger women of childbearing age. Atherosclerosis is considered as a disease of the old and increases with the ageing process. Both diseases are characterized by the increased presence of activated macrophages and associated increases in growth promoting activity and the production of inflammatory cytokines. In this review, we propose that oxidative stress and the presence of forms of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) might contribute to both Atherosclerosis and Endometriosis.     

Pharmacokinetics Study of Amoxycillin and Clavulanic acid (8:1)-A New Combination in Healthy Chinese Adult Male Volunteers Using the LC–MS/MS Method

New oral granules of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in 8:1 ratio have recently been developed and approved to conduct clinical trial in China. To date, there has been no report studying the pharmacokinetic characteristics of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in man. Therefore, it is urgent to investigate the pharmacokinetic properties of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in man. The aim of the study was to assess the pharmacokinetic properties of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in 8:1 with different dosage in healthy volunteers and provide support for this drug to obtain marketing authorization in China. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for determining the concentration of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in human plasma was developed and applied to this open-label, single- and multiple-dose Pharmacokinetics study. Subjects were randomized to receive a single dose of 1, 2, and 4 pouches of the test granulation of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in 8:1 ratio (amoxicillin is 250 mg and clavulanic acid is 31.25 mg per pouch). In the single-dose phase, blood samples were collected before dosing and at 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 5, 8, 12, and 24 h after drug administration. In the multiple-dose phase, samples were obtained before drug administration on days 1, 2, 3, and 4 to determine the C_min of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. In the 4th day, samples were collected from 0.25 to 24 h after drug administration. Profiles of the concentration–time curves of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid were best fitted to two-compartment model. In this group of healthy Chinese subjects, the pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin fitted the linear dynamic feature at doses of 250,500 and 1,000 mg, and not obviously about clavulanic acid at doses of 31.25, 62.5, and 125 mg. The t _1/2 of single dose and multidoses were (1.45 ± 0.12) and (1.44 ± 0.26) h of amoxicillin and (1.24 ± 0.23) and (1.24 ± 0.17) of clavulanic acid, respectively; The AUC_0–24 of single dose and multidoses were (27937.85 ± 4265.59) and (24569.80 ± 3663.63) ng h mL^?1 of amoxicillin and (891.45 ± 194.30) and (679.61 ± 284.05) ng h mL^?1 of clavulanic acid, respectively; The C_max of single dose and multidoses were (8414.58 ± 1416.78) and (7929.17 ± 1291.54) ng mL^?1 of amoxicillin and (349.00 ± 89.54) and (289.00 ± 67.36) ng h mL^?1 of clavulanic acid, respectively. t _1/2, AUC_0–24, and C_max were similar after multiple-dose administration and after single-dose administration, suggesting that amoxicillin and clavulanic acid do not accumulate with multiple-dose administration of 500 and 62.5 mg, respectively.     

Comparative Study of 1,064-nm Laser-Induced Skin Burn and Thermal Skin Burn

Infrared lasers are widely used in medicine, industry, and other fields. While science, medicine, and the society in general have benefited from the many practical uses of lasers, they also have inherent safety issues. Although several procedures have been put forward to protect the skin from non-specific laser-induced damage, individuals receiving laser therapy or researchers who use laser are still at risk for skin damage. This study aims to understand the interaction between laser and the skin, and to investigate the differences between the skin damage caused by 1,064-nm laser and common thermal burns. Skin lesions on Wistar rats were induced by a 1,064-nm CW laser at a maximum output of 40 W and by a copper brass bar attached to an HQ soldering iron. Histological sections of the lesions and the process of wound healing were evaluated. The widths of the epidermal necrosis and dermal denaturalization of each lesion were measured. To observe wound healing, the epithelial gap and wound gap were measured. Masson’s trichrome and picrosirius red staining were also used to assess lesions and wound healing. The thermal damage induced by laser intensified significantly in both horizontal dimension and in vertical depth with increased duration of irradiation. Ten days after wounding, the dermal injuries induced by laser were more severe. Compared with the laser-induced skin damage, the skin burn induced by an HQ soldering iron did not show a similar development or increased in severity with the passage of time. The results of this study showed the pattern of skin damage induced by laser irradiation and a heated brass bar. This study also highlighted the difference between laser irradiation and thermal burn in terms of skin damage and wound healing, and offers insight for further treatment.     

Mechanism for KRIT1 Release of ICAP1-Mediated Suppression of Integrin Activation

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Highlights? Cocrystal structure of KRIT1 with ICAP1 shows a bidentate interaction interface ? Cocrystal structure of ICAP1 with integrin β1 shows a PTB-peptide interaction ? KRIT1 antagonizes ICAP1-modulated integrin activation by the bidentate interaction ? KRIT1 contains a previously undescribed N-terminal Nudix domain     

Hopeahainol A attenuates memory deficits by targeting β‐amyloid in APP/PS1 transgenic mice

Increasing evidence demonstrates that amyloid beta (Aβ) elicits mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, which contributes to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Identification of the molecules targeting Aβ is thus of particular significance in the treatment of AD. Hopeahainol A (HopA), a polyphenol with a novel skeleton obtained from Hopea hainanensis, is potentially acetylcholinesterase‐inhibitory and anti‐oxidative in H₂O₂‐treated PC12 cells. In this study, we reported that HopA might bind to Aβ_1–42 directly and inhibit the Aβ_1–42 aggregation using a combination of molecular dynamics simulation, binding assay, transmission electron microscopic analysis and staining technique. We also demonstrated that HopA decreased the interaction between Aβ_1–42 and Aβ‐binding alcohol dehydrogenase, which in turn reduced mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro. In addition, HopA was able to rescue the long‐term potentiation induction by protecting synaptic function and attenuate memory deficits in APP/PS1 mice. Our data suggest that HopA might be a promising drug for therapeutic intervention in AD.