The Relation of Hepcidin to Iron Disorders,Inflammation and Hemoglobin in Chronic Kidney Disease

The metabolism of hepcidin is profoundly modified in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We investigated its relation to iron disorders, inflammation and hemoglobin (Hb) level in 199 non-dialyzed, non-transplanted patients with CKD stages 1–5. All had their glomerular filtration rate measured by ⁵¹Cr-EDTA renal clearance (mGFR), as well as measurements of iron markers including hepcidin and of erythropoietin (EPO). Hepcidin varied from 0.2 to 193 ng/mL. The median increased from 23.3 ng/mL [8.8–28.7] to 36.1 ng/mL [14.1–92.3] when mGFR decreased from ≥60 to <15 mL/min/1.73 m² (p = 0.02). Patients with absolute iron deficiency (transferrin saturation (TSAT) <20% and ferritin <40 ng/mL) had the lowest hepcidin levels (5.0 ng/mL [0.7–11.7]), and those with a normal iron profile (TSAT ≥20% and ferritin ≥40), the highest (34.5 ng/mL [23.7–51.6]). In multivariate analysis, absolute iron deficiency was associated with lower hepcidin values, and inflammation combined with a normal or functional iron profile with higher values, independent of other determinants of hepcidin concentration, including EPO, mGFR, and albuminemia. The hepcidin level, although it rose overall when mGFR declined, collapsed in patients with absolute iron deficiency. There was a significant interaction with iron status in the association between Hb and hepcidin. Except in absolute iron deficiency, hepcidin’s negative association with Hb level indicates that it is not down-regulated in CKD anemia.     

Horizontal Transfer of Archaeal Genes into the Deinococcaceae: Detection by Molecular and Computer-Based Approaches

Members of the Deinococcaceae (e.g., Thermus, Meiothermus, Deinococcus) contain A/V-ATPases typically found in Archaea or Eukaryotes which were probably acquired by horizontal gene transfer. Two methods were used to quantify the extent to which archaeal or eukaryotic genes have been acquired by this lineage. Screening of a Meiothermus ruber library with probes made against Thermoplasma acidophilum DNA yielded a number of clones which hybridized more strongly than background. One of these contained the prolyl tRNA synthetase (RS) gene. Phylogenetic analysis shows the M. ruber and D. radiodurans prolyl RS to be more closely related to archaeal and eukaryal forms of this gene than to the typical bacterial type. Using a bioinformatics approach, putative open reading frames (ORFs) from the prerelease version of the D. radiodurans genome were screened for genes more closely related to archaeal or eukaryotic genes. Putative ORFs were searched against representative genomes from each of the three domains using automated BLAST. ORFs showing the highest matches against archaeal and eukaryotic genes were collected and ranked. Among the top-ranked hits were the A/V-ATPase catalytic and noncatalytic subunits and the prolyl RS genes. Using phylogenetic methods, ORFs were analyzed and trees assessed for evidence of horizontal gene transfer. Of the 45 genes examined, 20 showed topologies in which D. radiodurans homologues clearly group with eukaryotic or archaeal homologues, and 17 additional trees were found to show probable evidence of horizontal gene transfer. Compared to the total number of ORFs in the genome, those that can be identified as having been acquired from Archaea or Eukaryotes are relatively few (approximately 1%), suggesting that interdomain transfer is rare.     

啮齿动物的贮藏行为与植物种子的扩散

绝大多数啮齿动物一方面取食大量的植物种子和果实,另一方面通过其贮食行为将植物种子和果实搬运到远离母树的地点,即扩散,并将它们分散埋藏在落叶下或浅表的土层中,从而影响种子和果实的时空分布,最后导致幼苗在有利的条件下发生和建成,实现植物更新。啮齿动物与植物种子和果实之间已广泛形成了互惠或协同进化的关系。啮齿动物的贮食行为主要通过以下几个过程对植物种子和果实的扩散产生影响：选择、搬运和埋藏以及随后对种子和幼苗存活和死亡的影响等。本综述了啮齿动物对植物种子和果实贮藏的研究结果,以期为进一步开展啮齿动物的贮食行为在植物种子和果实的扩散中的作用的研究提供参考。     

植物转基因位置依赖性沉默与位置效应

植物基因组能够识别外源基因的出现及所整合的特异位置并产生相应反应,通过分析嘧啶甲基化的信号及模式,比较不同表达水平转基因的整合位点及基因组环境差异,植物转基因位置依赖性沉默和位置效应的机理得到进一步揭示;讨论了位置效应的研究方法和克服策略。     

水稻储藏过程中淀粉黏度特性的变化

对水稻淀粉黏度特性特征值测定的统计分析表明：在避光自然温度储藏期间,不同类型稻谷淀粉黏度特征值均有明显的变化,各特征值在储藏1～5个月内变化较小,而6～7个月期间变化较大,大部分特征值变化差异达到显著或极显著水平。不同类型稻谷在储藏期间黏度特征值发生明显差异的时间点不同,粳糯类水稻品种在储藏期间发生明显差异的时间点明显早于粳稻和籼稻类。储藏时间与淀粉黏度特征值优化方程建立结果显示：与籼稻类品质变化关系密切的主要特征值为最高黏度（PKV）、崩解值（BDV）和峰值时间（PeT）,粳稻类为热浆黏度（HPV）、冷胶黏度（CPV）和回复值（CSV）,而粳糯类为PKV、BDV、CSV和起浆温度（PAT）。研究结果表明,通过RVA谱主要特征值来评价不同类型水稻品种稻谷耐储藏性具有可行性。     

阿托伐他汀对高血压肾脏并发症炎性损伤的治疗作用(英文)

通过考察阿托伐他汀(atorvastatin, ATO) 对自发性高血压大鼠(spontaneously hypertensive rats, SHR) 肾脏炎性损害的影响, 探讨了 ATO 对高血压肾脏并发症的防治作用。将4周龄SHR分为高血压模型组和ATO治疗组(8mg/kg),以同周龄的Wistar-Kyoto大鼠为正常对照。灌胃给药8周后, 采用酶联免疫法(enzyme linked immunosorbent assay)测定血浆和肾组织血管紧张素Ⅱ(angiotensin, AngⅡ)含量;测定诱导性一氧化氮合酶(inducible nitric oxide synthase, iNOS)及细胞间粘附分子-1(intercellular adhesion molecule-1, ICAM-1) 的蛋白表达和亚硝酸阴离子(nitrite, NO2-)含量,以评价肾脏炎症状态; 以苏木素伊红(hematoxylin and eosin)和过碘酸六胺银染色(periodic acid-silver metheramine) 染色示SHR肾小球和肾间质形态学病变,并以尿蛋白含量为指标衡量肾脏功能。结果显示...     

奶牛和肉牛6个STR基因座遗传多态性研究

利用PCR技术和复合电泳银染技术检测奶牛和肉牛BM2113、BM1862、BMc701、BM2934、TGLA122、BM720等6个STR基因座的多态性分布,并计算该6个基因座的基因频率(P_i)、个体鉴别力(DP)、杂合度(H)、多态信息含量(PIC)、和非父排除概率(PE)。结果显示:6个STR基因座的基因型分布符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡,奶牛中6个STR基因座中BM2113基因座的DP、H和PIC最高,TGLA122基因座的PE最高。6个STR基因座的累积个体鉴别力(CDP)为0.99997,累积非父排除能力(CPE)为0.98827。肉牛中6个STR基因座中BM1862基因座的DP、H、PIC、PE都是最高,6个STR基因座的累积个体鉴别力(CDP)为0.99999,累积非父排除能力(CPE)为0.99578。结果表明,6个STR基因座可用于牛的遗传连锁分析、个体识别和亲子鉴定等研究领域。     

用PO4细胞为靶细胞检测人血清中Epstein-Barr病毒IgA/MA抗体以诊断鼻咽癌

近年来,常用未经丙酮固定的、由丁酸和巴豆油激活的B95-8细胞或P3HR-1细胞为靶细胞,检测人血清中EB病毒IgA/MA抗体以早期诊断鼻咽癌,效果良好。但由于B95-8细胞含有多种EB病毒抗原,不能用丙酮固定,需多次离心沉淀,在浮悬状态下检测,技术比较复杂。     

渤海海域渤东凹陷沙河街组四段古生物组合的发现及其意义

渤海海域渤东凹陷沙河街组四段内发现了丰富的孢粉、藻类和轮藻类化石组合,孢粉组合与渤海湾沿岸地区沙河街组四段的E phedri pites-Ulmoidei pites tricostatus-Pterisis porites组合特征一致,沟鞭藻类见有Luxadinium elongatum,Cangaianella e...