Spatio-temporal tumour model for analysis and mechanism of action of intracellular drug accumulation

We have developed a one-dimensional tumour simulator to describe the biodistribution of chemotherapeutic drugs to a tumoral lesion and the tumour cell’s response to therapy. A three-compartment model is used for drug dynamics within the tumour. The first compartment represents the extracellular space in which cells move, the second corresponds to the intracellular fluid space (including cell membrane) which is in direct equilibrium with the extracellular space, and the third is a non-exchangeable compartment that represents sequestered drug which is trapped in the nucleus to damage the cellular DNA, directly triggering cell death. Analytical and numerical techniques (Finite Element Method) are used to describe the tumour’s response to therapy and the effect of parameter variation on the drug concentration profiles in the three compartments.     

氨基酸营养当量和整齐性指数

化学法以蛋白质的氨基酸组成评价蛋白质营养价值。在分析化学法的一般思想和方法的基础上,本文引进氨基酸营养当量和营养当量数的概念,并提出一个称为“整齐性指数”的新化学指数。使化学评价蛋白质营养价值的方法理论化,并使化学指数在反映蛋白质营养价值上更加精确可靠;本文同时还揭示了化学法中常用的化学分指标能较理想反映蛋白质营养价值的内在原因,通过实例分析,本文还证实了蛋白质的氨基酸组成对蛋白质的消化率存在影响的作用。     

甘露醇对Lowry法测定冻干注射用胸腺肽中多肽含量的影响

用Ｌｏｗｒｙ法测定冻干注射用胸腺肽中多肽含量时,由于冻干前所加赋形剂甘露醇的干扰,其测定结果明显偏高（Ｐ＜０．０００５）。本文经试验证明,用等量于检品中的甘露醇作空白对照,可以消除这种干扰。     

Transmembrane topology of the Acr3 family arsenite transporter from Bacillus subtilis

The transmembrane topology of the Acr3 family arsenite transporter Acr3 from Bacillus subtilis was analysed experimentally using translational fusions with alkaline phosphatase and green fluorescent protein and in silico by topology modelling. Initial topology prediction resulted in two models with 9 and 10 TM helices respectively. 32 fusion constructs were made between truncated forms of acr3 and the reporter genes at 17 different sites throughout the acr3 sequence to discriminate between these models. Nine strong reporter protein signals provided information about the majority of the locations of the cytoplasmic and extracellular loops of Acr3 and showed that both the N- and the C-termini are located in the cytoplasm. Two ambiguous data points indicated the possibility of an alternative 8 helix topology. This possibility was investigated using another 10 fusion variants, but no experimental support for the 8 TM topology was obtained. We therefore conclude that Acr3 has 10 transmembrane helices. Overall, the loops which connect the membrane spanning segments are short, with cytoplasmic loops being somewhat longer than the extracellular loops. The study provides the first ever experimentally derived structural information on a protein of the Acr3 family which constitutes one of the largest classes of arsenite transporters.     

Numerical Analysis of An Anastomotic Device

The explicit dynamic finite element method was utilized to investigate the deformation behaviour of a woven wire mesh tubular device that is used in a side-to-side anastomotic procedure for achieving gastrointestinal anastomosis. The numerical model was initially verified by comparison to experimental results that were obtained using a specialized testing mechanism. Once validated, the finite element model (FEM) was parameterized to ascertain the influence of several device parameters on its deformation behaviour. The importance of these parameters, as related to its optimal design for use in minimally invasive surgery (MIS), was subsequently ascertained and discussed.     

Evaluation of genetic diversity of Panicum turgidum Forssk from Saudi Arabia

The genetic diversity of 177 accessions of Panicum turgidum Forssk, representing ten populations collected from four geographical regions in Saudi Arabia, was analyzed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. A set of four primer-pairs with two/three selective nucleotides scored 836 AFLP amplified fragments (putative loci/genome landmarks), all of which were polymorphic. Populations collected from the southern region of the country showed the highest genetic diversity parameters, whereas those collected from the central regions showed the lowest values. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that 78% of the genetic variability was attributable to differences within populations. Pairwise values for population differentiation and genetic structure were statistically significant for all variances. The UPGMA dendrogram, validated by principal coordinate analysis-grouped accessions, corresponded to the geographical origin of the accessions. Mantel’s test showed that there was a significant correlation between the genetic and geographical distances (r = 0.35, P < 0.04). In summary, the AFLP assay demonstrated the existence of substantial genetic variation in P. turgidum. The relationship between the genetic diversity and geographical source of P. turgidum populations of Saudi Arabia, as revealed through this comprehensive study, will enable effective resource management and restoration of new areas without compromising adaptation and genetic diversity.     

小鼠胃 Cajal 间质细胞分离与培养实验方法探讨

目的:尝试优化体外培养Balb/c小鼠胃Cajal间质细胞(interstitial cells of Cajal,ICC)的实验方法,为深入探索该细胞的生理病理作用机制提供基础。方法:无菌条件下取出小鼠胃组织,使用酶解法消化分离细胞,将细胞悬液接种于含有SCF(干细胞因子)的M199培养基中培养,并进行传代。倒置显微镜下观察不同时间段细胞生长状态,采用ICC特异性标志物c-Kit(酪氨酸激酶受体)进行免疫荧光鉴定。结果:细胞培养24 h后基本已贴壁,呈梭形或三角形,有短突起;72 h后细胞胞体变大,突起伸长;5 d后,细胞之间通过突起彼此相互连接,开始形成网状结构;传代后细胞依然保持其固有特征。免疫荧光鉴定可见细胞c-Kit抗体荧光染色阳性。结论:使用酶解法成功分离细胞,细胞数量较多但不增殖,传代后可见细胞纯度较好,稳定培养3周以上后细胞形态逐渐发生变化并开始凋亡。     

Purification and Immunoprotection Evaluation of AaHIV from Complex Venom Metalloproteinases of Deinagkistrodon acutus

The aim of this study was to investigate the immunoprotective effects of AaHIV in mice. After purification, a 12% sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) was performed. Bicinchoninic acid was used to determine the molecular weight and concentration of AaHIV. AaHIV, venom complex (VC), and phosphate buffered saline (PBS) were subsequently used to immunize the mice three times, and the blood was sampled 1 week after the third immunization to determine the serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody titer. A skin‐bleeding inhibition assay and toxin‐eliminating assay were performed on the immunized mice. The purity and concentration of AaHIV were 86.6% and 1.20 mg/mL, respectively. The AaHIV group exhibited higher antibody titers than the VC group. The survival rate of the AaHIV group (7/10) was significantly higher than that of the PBS group (0/10) (P = 0.0031). The high titer of antibodies induced by AaHIV partially neutralized the bleeding activity of the Deinagkistrodon acutus venom complex.     

New methods for the assessment of mite numbers and results obtained for several textile objects

Summary The assessment of mite numbers in textile objects is important with regard to measures aimed at mite control. The standard method is to take a dust sample and to separate the mites from the dust by means of flotation. The results of mite assessment can be improved using methods based on the natural mobility of the mites; the so-called Mobility Test makes use of the intrinsic movement tendencies of the mites, whereas the Heat Escape Method uses the mobility of the mites in connection with the effects of heat. An example concernig two jackets shows the difference in results of mite assessment when using the conventional method (dust sample and flotation) on the one hand, and the new methods (Mobility Test and Heat Escape Method) on the other. It is shown that the conventional method can only supply relative mite numbers. The new methods also enable the user to monitor more efficiently the use of acaricide agents in mite control. This is demonstrated using the example of two beds and a carpet taken from a children's bedroom. The considerably higher numbers of mites suggest that the risk of the occurence of mite allergens and their penetration into the indoor air is even greater than previously assumed.